This afternoon’s group one Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot kicks off the Summer racing Carnival in the West and the locals will be looking to exciting sprinter Barakey to repel the eastern visitors assault.

First run in 1952 over 1400m under weight for age conditions, the Winterbottom Stakes has seen a couple of changes in that time, the distance reduced to 1200m in 1993 and elevated to group one level in 2011.

Some of Western Australia’s best gallopers have won the event including Nicopolis (1962), Marjoleo (1978), Fimiston (1986), Placid Ark (1987), Miss Andretti (2005) and Marasco (2006), but in more recent times the race has been won by class sprinters from the east like Takeover Target (2008) and Ortensia (2009 & 2011).

In fact three of the last four renewals have been won by visiting sprinters who again are well represented this afternoon with Pinwheel, Spirit Of Boom and Hallowell Belle set to provide stiff opposition for the local speedsters.

However the rapidly improving unbeaten sprinter Barakey looks the genuine article who should more than hold his own in his toughest test to date.

Unbeaten in ten career starts, Barakey has worked his way through the classes but in this campaign in just two starts he has gone to a new Timeform ratings level of 115+.

Tackling open sprint company over 1000m, Barakey resumed at Belmont in mid October with an impressive effort, jumping straight to the lead and controlling the race thereafter.

Then last time out he tackled the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot winning eased down by over five lengths prompting some to compare him with the outstanding former West Australian-trained sprinter Hay List.

A comparison that as their Timeform ratings reveal is not far off the mark. For example prior to leaving the west, Hay List had won eight of his nine starts and was Timeform rated 110, some five pounds inferior to Barakey at the same stage of their careers.

Barakey’s two runs from a spell will have him ready to go to a new Timeform peak rating this afternoon. Accordingly I am expecting Barakey to run close to a Timeform rating of 120, a figure he will need to produce if he is to hold out rivals like Pinwheel (Timeform rated 121), Spirit of Boom (119) and Hallowell Belle (114) under the weight for age conditions.

The Peter Snowden stable who ended their Melbourne spring on a high note at Sandown last Saturday will be hoping for second time lucky with the ultra consistent Pinwheel. The stable was runner up last year with the handy Rarefied who finished a length behind Ortensia but there is no doubt Pinwheel is a superior horse by quite a few pounds.

Pinwheel has not raced since finishing an unlucky seventh in the G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) behind Moment of Change 56 days ago but his form prior was first class for a race like this.

Two starts back he took out the G2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) after an easy G3 win in the Missile Stakes (1200m) when resuming from a spell.

Snowden has kept Pinwheel up to the mark since the Rupert Clarke Stakes with a Rosehill barrier trial and he rates as the main danger to Barakey.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained mare Hallowell Belle looks well placed coming on the back of three very good runs in strong sprint class during the Melbourne spring.

Fresh up she won the G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington from King’s Rose, then had little luck when fourth in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley behind Sea Siren before finishing third last time out to Mental and Sea Siren in the G1 Patinack Farm Classic down the straight 1200m at Flemington.

That form holds up very well right now and if reproduced this afternoon will ensure she takes a hand in the finish, however there are reports that the mare has not settled in that well since arriving in Perth, something that will be a concern for punters as she will need to be at or close to her best for this assignment.

Another visitor is the Tony Gollan- trained Spirit Of Boom who also comes off strong sprint races in Melbourne, the best effort coming two starts back in the G2 Yellowglen Stakes down the straight 1200m at Flemington when beaten in a close finish.

Spirit Of Boom raced below par last time out in the Patinack Farm Classic but a return to his best keeps him under notice.

Champion rider Nash Rawiller who was atop the entire in the Yellowglen Stakes again has the mount and in a race where the speed is likely to be on from the jump, Spirit Of Boom will be the one finishing the race off hardest.

Enjoy the contest.