Victorian jockey Brad Rawiller has given Marasco the thumbs up heading into Saturday's Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.Rawiller was delighted with the six-year-old after getting his first feel of him at trackwork on Thursday morning at Ascot."I rode him this morning and he worked super," Rawiller told perthracing.com.au."I was not sure what to expect after his run last Saturday in the Railway but he really worked good and we can go in Saturday confident he is a strong winning chance."Mara

Victorian jockey Brad Rawiller has given Marasco the thumbs up heading into Saturday's Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

Rawiller was delighted with the six-year-old after getting his first feel of him at trackwork on Thursday morning at Ascot.

"I rode him this morning and he worked super," Rawiller told perthracing.com.au.

"I was not sure what to expect after his run last Saturday in the Railway but he really worked good and we can go in Saturday confident he is a strong winning chance."

Marasco has won 13 races and is a multiple Group winner but faced a tough task last week in the Group One Railway Stakes (1600m) having to overcome barrier 14 and set a new metric weight-carrying record with 57.5kg under handicap conditions.

He finished 11th to Gilded Venom and Rawiller replaces William Pike on him in Saturday's 1200m feature.

Marasco and Danny Beau are regarded as the best local hopes of upsetting Takeover Target and Apache Cat in the Winterbottom which is considered a match-race between the visitors.

"He (Marasco) is a great horse and the home town horses are always hard to beat at Ascot, you really can't disregard the locals," Rawiller said.

"I was rapt to get the call to ride Marasco and can't wait for Saturday."

Rawiller expects there will be plenty of forward pressure which could work in favour of Marasco.

"There is no way they are going to let Takeover Target dominate from the front and with Danny Beau drawn wide it will give Marasco a chance to run home strongly," Rawiller said.

Rawiller showed his accomplished riding skills on Wednesday at Bunbury, notching a winning double on board Juggling and Burnzy.

He is also looking forward to reuniting with Niconero in Saturday week's Group One Kingston Town Stakes (1800m) at Ascot.