Trekking On Target For Winterbottom Stakes
Winterbottom Stakes favourite Trekking warmed up for Saturday’s Group 1 feature at Ascot with a comfortable trial win this morning (Monday).
A dual Group 1 winner, the James Cummings-trained gelding has not raced since he ran second to Hey Doc in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in October.
Ridden by William Pike, Trekking sat off the speed and closed strongly to defeat Excellent Dream by a half-length without being extended in his 1000m heat at Belmont.
Godolphin representative, Nacim Dilmi, said Trekking did all that was asked of him and was on track for a second attempt at Perth’s premier sprint race.
“I’m very happy,” Dilmi told The Races WA.
“Obviously, he wasn’t here to break any record, we were treating it as a final gallop.
“Willie rode him really well, got him some cover and when he asked him to quicken the horse responded well.
“He has pulled up really well and we are very happy with that going into Saturday’s race.
“It gives us a great indication that he is going really well.
“We saw what he had to see.”
Trekking is out to claim his third win at the elite level interstate. The son of Street Cry won the Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm in 2019 and the Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville last May.
Trekking ran fourth to Hey Doc in last years Winterbottom Stakes when favourite.