Libertad Steps Up, Denies Overpass in Winterbottom

Libertad (AUS) produced the biggest performance of his career and one of the most dramatic finishes of The Pinnacles when the 5-year-old entire lunged late to deny Overpass (AUS) a historic Winterbottom Stakes (G1) three-peat at Ascot Racecourse in Perth Nov. 29, announcing himself as Western Australia's newest group 1 sprint star and supercharging his future stallion appeal. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained runner arrived in Perth as an AU$21 outsider, yet delivered a moment that will long define Trilogy Racing's burgeoning breeding and racing operation. With founders Jason and Melanie Stenning and partners Sean and Kathy Dingwall watching on, Libertad surged into the national spotlight after jockey Jamie Mott seized a race-winning gap on the rail. Overpass, chasing what would have been an unprecedented third consecutive Winterbottom, rolled marginally off the fence at the top of the straight. Mott pounced instantly, driving Libertad through to eyeball the favorite, and the pair engaged in a grueling duel. Locked stride-for-stride at the 200 meters, Libertad edged ahead in the final bound, scoring by 0.1 lengths, with Rey Magnerio (AUS) another half-length away in third. "He had to go to a new level today and he was able to do that," Mott said. "I sat on his back and I was quite keen for probably the first 400 (meters).... but when I was able to join Overpass and fight him off like he did, I thought it was a huge performance." The win was a long-awaited group 1 breakthrough for Libertad, who had already claimed the Kindergarten Stakes (G3), San Domenico Stakes (G3), and Victory Stakes (G2) but was yet to convert at the elite level despite a strong fourth behind Giga Kick (AUS) in the Champions Sprint (G1). It also delivered Mott his fourth group 1, and crucially, his first at the top level in partnership with the Archibald stable. "We weren't in the market, and we knew the favorite was going to be really, really tough to beat," Annabel Archibald said. "What a great ride by Jamie. The plan was to follow Overpass, with the knowledge that he'd be very hard to run down. "But I thought Libertad's run in the Champions Sprint was terrific, and just seeing him—I got here on Thursday—and this is the best he's ever paraded. "He'd won a group 2 and a couple of group 3s, and we were desperate to get a group 1 with him. He's still an entire, so I'm so happy for Trilogy and there's plenty of decent owners in him. A couple have made the trip over, so we'll be having a big one tonight." For Trilogy Racing, who bought into Libertad after his AUS$210,000 Inglis Ready2Race sale purchase in 2022, the victory was transformational. Stenning reflected: "He's now won group races at 2, 3, 4, and 5, which is a pretty rare achievement. "It's very emotional for us—our first group 1 win in Trilogy colors. It's a huge milestone for us."