Kennewell can’t fault Viddora in Perth

Viddora takes strong Melbourne spring carnival form into the $1 million Winterbottom Stakes in Perth and trainer Lloyd Kennewell is hoping the mare gets a trouble-free run in her latest bid to break through at the top level.

Adelaide-trained Viddora arrived in Perth last Sunday week and Kennewell can’t fault the five-year-old ahead of Saturday’s 1200m weight-for-age feature at Ascot.

“She’s good as gold,” Kennewell said.

“She has settled in really, really well and I couldn’t be happier with her.

“I’m just looking at hopefully having no bad luck and I think she’ll be very, very hard to beat.

“She had one good hit-out on Tuesday morning and she worked really well.

“I’m really happy with where she’s at and I’m looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully things go well.”

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Viddora was denied by She Will Reign in a photo finish to the Group One weight-for-age Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley first-up in late September before finishing fourth in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the same track a month later.

The mare was also second in the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide at her final start of last season in May.

Local sprinter State Solicitor, winner of nine of his 12 starts, is the $3.20 favourite in the field of 12 with Viddora on the second line of betting at $4.40 ahead of Rock Magic ($6) and Santa Ana Lane ($8).

Rock Magic also competed well during the Melbourne spring, without winning, before returning home to WA for the Winterbottom.

The Anthony Freedman-trained Santa Ana Lane is aiming for a second-straight Group One win after taking out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in early October.

Kennewell, who is chasing his first Group One win, believes Viddora is probably the best-credentialled sprinter in the race.

“I wouldn’t think there’s too many that have got the form that she’s got at Group One level, and State Solicitor is probably the unknown,” he said.

State Solicitor won the Group Three Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at his most recent start.