The $1.5million Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday delivered a second Group I winner for Russian Revolution and it came in the shape of his high class five year-old son Libertad.
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Libertad won the Group II BRC Victory Stakes in Brisbane back in May and headed to Perth off a last start fourth in the Group I VRC Champions Sprint behind Giga Kick.
Perfectly ridden by Jamie Mott, he enjoyed a cosy run in transit tracking the leaders on the fence and when he was given the cue to challenge Overpass, Libertad gave it all he had and as it turns out that was enough.
The possibility of a fairytale three-peat in the G1 Winterbottom for race favourite Overpass vanished in the last few strides as Libertad slowly but surely wrenched victory from his grasp.
https://twitter.com/Racing/status/1994695063717253306
“It’s a huge, huge thrill- we weren’t in the market and we knew the favourite would be really tough to beat” said a delighted Annabel Archibald after the race.
“What a great ride by Jamie! We got a really nice draw, and the plan was always just to try and follow Overpass with the knowledge that he was going to be very hard to run down.
“ I thought his (Libertad’s) run in the Champions Sprint was terrific, and when I got here on Thursday just seeing him I was happy…this is the best he’s ever paraded, he’s tightened up a bit and now – he’s won a G2 and a couple of G3s, but we were desperate to get a G1 with him as he’s still an entire.
“I’m so happy for Trilogy and there’s plenty of decent owners in him – a couple of them made the trip over, so we’ll be having a big one tonight!”
Libertad runs for an ownership group that includes Trilogy Racing in whose colours he runs and his overall record reads five wins – four of them in Group races – and two placings from 17 starts with prizemoney of $1.6million.
Libertad was a $210,000 Inglis Ready 2 Race purchase for Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the Nolen Racing draft and was a successful pinhook having been sourced from Inglis Classic for $40,000 from the Rheinwood Pastoral draft.
Bred by Rheinwood in partnership, Libertad is the best of four winners from Electric Charge, a winning half-sister by Charge Forward to Group III winner Miss Darcey from stakes-winner Miss Bussell.
He is the second G1 winner for Russian Revolution joining Communist, who won the 2023 ATC Randwick Guineas.
Russian Revolution has 26 entries for Magic Millions 2026 and 11 for Inglis Classic.
