The Rising has secured a spot against the big guns from the Easter States in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 23.

The local star earned an exemption from the Winterbottom ballot with a convincing victory in the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) on Tuesday.  It improved his strike-rate to 7 wins in 10 starts for trainer Trevor Andrews.

The Rising (4h Flying Pegasus – Glenn’s Girl by Key Business) was always travelling like a winner and let down like a good horse to defeat Mendicity (Blackfriars) and Watermans Bay (Eternity Range).

The Winterbottom’s $500,000 purse has attracted interstate sprinters Buffering, Spirit Of Boom, Rebel Dane and Bel Sprinter while local nominations include Barakey and Smoko.

“It’s going to be a high-speed race and that’s ideal – he has a terrific turn of foot,” Andrews said.  “We may be aiming a bit high but he’s worthy of a start at that level.”

The Rising is raced by the trainer’s wife Joanne along with Isaac and Estelle Cohen, Wayne Downs, Ken and Helen Gregson and Glenn Martin.  He was a $60,000 purchase from Touchstone Farm at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions.

His sire Flying Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus) was bred by Bart Cummings and won the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at two and G2 Royal Sovereign Stakes as a three year-old.  He stands for a $4,400 (inc gst) fee at Touchstone Farm.

The Andrews trained King Saul helped him claim the Sunspeed second-season title in 2011-12 with victories in the G2 WA Guineas, LR Northerly Stakes and LR Belgravia Stakes.