Perth star Barakey will head the home defence for the Winterbottom Stakes after nominations for the Group 1 sprint were released on Wednesday.

The $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 24 has attracted several interstate visitors including Buffering, Pinwheel, Hallowell Belle, Bel Sprinter and stablemates Tower Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom.

Barakey (5g Key Business – Dance Hi by Ideal Planet) extended his unbeaten record to 10 out of 10 in the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Tuesday.  He led from the outset and was never in danger winning under a hold by more than three lengths.

“I’ve poured the work into him and he’s probably looking for 1200 metres now,” trainer Jim Taylor said.  “That will bring him on for the Winterbottom.  He’s about 90% right and I will sharpen him up in the next couple of weeks.”

Taylor trained Hay List to 8 wins in a row before losing his unbeaten record in the 2009 edition of the Colonel Reeves.  Connections then transferred him to John McNair in NSW.

Barakey’s sire Key Business (Success Express) stands alongside Henny Hughes (Hennessy) and So Secret (Danetime) at Bullsbrook based Rangeview Stud.  His dam Dance Hi has also foaled Hi On Love (G3 Champion Fillies), Ifestio (LR Belmont Oaks) and the dam of Keytomoney (LR Bunbury Stakes).

Dance Hi was bred legendary Sunspeed horseman Joe Broderick and she has an unraced 2yo colt named Nullaki (So Secret) and a yearling colt by So Secret.

– Karl Patterson