Ascot delivered a day of drama and brilliance on November 29, with thrilling finishes, dominant displays, and a Group 1 boilover that will be talked about for weeks. From Santonova’s last-stride heroics to Hot And High’s emphatic Listed triumph, the card had something for everyone. But it was Libertad’s stunning upset in the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes that stole the spotlight, denying Overpass a historic third crown and setting the stage for an intriguing Gold Rush showdown.

Ascot delivered a day of drama and brilliance on November 29, with thrilling finishes, dominant displays, and a Group 1 boilover that will be talked about for weeks. From Santonova's last-stride heroics to Hot And High's emphatic Listed triumph, the card had something for everyone. But it was Libertad's stunning upset in the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes that stole the spotlight, denying Overpass a historic third crown and setting the stage for an intriguing Gold Rush showdown.

Hayden King has provided his summary after Saturday's Day 3 of the TABtouch Pinnacles:

Among the final handful into stride, Santonova ($14) was buried back near last and eight lengths from the lead with just 400m to go.

Only with 200m left did William Pike begin to plot a course through aboard the four-year-old, while umpteen rivals jostled for the mastery upfront.

With the ascendancy to-ing and fro-ing between a host of runners, Pike saved his dash for the final moment before unwinding Michael Lane's mare with a tremendous sprint to sizzle past them all in the final bound, emphasising there truly is no one better at knowing where the winning line is.

Those who strongly supported Forever Boy at Ascot on November 15 came up narrowly short when the gelding finished in third place.

That did little to dent their confidence, with backers piling the Michael Grantham-trained five-year-old into $2.50 favouritism again and he did not let them down.

Positioned in a lovely trailing spot, Clint Johnston-Porter eased Forever Boy three wide at the 500m, and he cruised to the front rounding the turn.

Despite Hoba West ($7) kicking gallantly and Royal Toronado ($5) fleetingly looming, the bay had enough gas in the tank to score by a half-length.

Emboldened by a favourite's success, punters had little worry in rushing aboard Awesome Boy ($2.40jf) to beat former market elect Fast Harry ($2.40jf).

But Awesome Boy was afforded no peace and was harried out of the lead role by Benji's ($61), forcing the co-favourite to eventually take cover.

Easing to his outside, he quickly mastered the front-runner at the 400m, but Speed Dream ($41) and Dug Another Hole ($41) were all over his back and ready to strike.

Committed for home by Brandon Louis, Awesome Boy darted a length clear, but the aforementioned pair were quick to challenge.

In a three-way throw to the line, Speed Dream and Jason Whiting got the verdict by a long head from Awesome Boy, with Dug Another Hole a further head astern.

Austin Galati has had a top run of Saturday metropolitan winners recently and was presented another opportunity when steering Bolta ($5.50) in the fourth event.

Getting back to last in the initial stages, Bolta had plenty of traffic in front of him as the field exited the back straight, with runners racing four abreast.

Eventually, Galati pulled the five-year-old to the extreme outside and he let rip over the final 200m to surge to the front.

The long neck success was the horse's fifth in succession, beating Eevalina ($31) and the unlucky Leonardo Da Grey ($6.50), with the Geraldton form holding strong.

Supporters of Hot And High were many and fierce, backing the unexposed three-year-old from $3.10 down to $2 favouritism come start time.

With two untapped but decisive wins in lesser company prior to Saturday, Dion Luciani's filly was held in high esteem.

Her performance showed exactly why as she darted to a premier spot, outside the leader, in the early part and controlled the tempo before taking over on the home turn.

Dismissing of her pacesetting counterpart Ninetymilestraight ($34), the daughter of Too Darn Hot stormed to a contemptuous three-length victory in the Listed $125,000 Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic (1400m), keeping her unbeaten record intact.

After securing a soft passage aboard Mississippi Dawn ($9), Clint Johnston-Porter was faced with a wall of runners forming around him as he negotiated the home bend.

But as the hard-backed market principal The Crimson Pirate ($2.25f) struck the front at the 250m, he angled off that runner's back to produce Mississippi Dawn down the middle.

For the next 200m, the pair set-to in a spirited duel before Mississippi Dawn eventually wrested away the ascendancy and edged to a head win.

Cessation ($8.50) had been banging on the door to win a race before Saturday.

All four of her efforts this preparation had merit, including the last two where she had just been chinned over the final stages.

Flying out of the barriers, Luke Campbell settled the five-year-old outside three-year-old Castle Road ($10) and quickly dashed her to the front early in the straight.

Momentarily, it seemed that Sky Duke ($26) would again pick her off, but Tiarnna Noske's charge fought hard to see off that challenge before a late effort from that runner's stablemate, September Born ($4f).

However, with September Born sustaining a torrid transit, Cessation had enough in the tank to hold on by a half-length.

Fired out of the gates with sparkling early speed, Toropa ($18) had no trouble crossing to the inside to lead the Listed $125,000 Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m).

Controlling the tempo with Luvnwar ($3.90) outside, Brad Parnham asked up the pacemaker around the home turn and she responded grandly, spurning her leading companion quickly.

Roaring up the running, Toropa ripped away from her rivals to win by two lengths from Amjaad ($151), who picked off Luvnwar late.

The main event, the Group 1 $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), had shaped for some time as a match race between Ascot's adopted son Overpass ($2.20f) and feelgood story Jokers Grin ($3.50).

The market gravitated strongly to Overpass on the predicted map, suggesting he was likely to lead and dictate the pace.

That was exactly what occurred, with Josh Parr whizzing the two-time Winterbottom champion to the top and stifling the gallop.

However, all the while, Libertad ($31) was stalking the front-runner and when Overpass wobbled off the inside in customary style, an ideal seam emerged.

The longshot sprinted powerfully under Jamie Mott's vigour, joining Overpass with 100m to travel.

In a desperate lunge, Libertad stuck his nose out on the mirror and got the verdict by a half-head, depriving his eastern states compatriot of a record-breaking third Winterbottom success.

Meanwhile, Jokers Grin raced keenly and was involved in a midfield jostle, which ultimately earned Pat Carbery a suspension that rules him out of the Gold Rush ride should Bernie Miller and connections go there.

Overpass and third placegetter Rey Magnerio ($8) have both been confirmed for the Gold Rush, so here's hoping Jokers Grin perseveres and can show them his true colours in two weeks.

After three placings at handy odds so far this preparation, Thermosphere Lad ($16) was again sent out a price in a competitive-looking final contest.

Scooting out of the gates, Keshaw Dhurun sent the Angela Johnston-trained six-year-old outside the leader and they raced to the lead at the 250m.

With the wide-travelling Canny Rock ($61) in pursuit, Thermosphere Lad kept kicking grimly and clung gamely to the lead.

Despite an equally valiant effort from Canny Rock, he came up short as Thermosphere Lad crossed the line a head the better.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Given the anticipation of the Winterbottom Stakes, it's impossible to ignore its presence. It may not have satisfied most who had an allegiance to either Overpass or Jokers Grin, but Libertad was a worthy winner and thrives off travel. He's now headed for the paddock, so let's hope we get an Overpass v Jokers Grin rematch in a fortnight.

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