2008 Railway Stakes – 22 November 2008

This Saturday the $1 million Group 1 Carlton Draught Railway Stakes for three year olds and upwards over 1600 metres will be run at Ascot. It is Perth’s richest race and this year there are eight interstate acceptors in the field of sixteen plus one emergency.

The field is exceptionally strong this year, and the forecast of rain should add some interest. Despite half the field being from the eastern states the last horse to win that was from outside Western Australia was in 1999 when the Mick Price Slavonic won.

The early favourite is Bank Robber at $4.50. His last two starts over the distance have given him a second in the Epsom and a fourth in the Emirates Stakes. He will be ridden by Blake Shinn who won the Melbourne Cup on Viewed less than three weeks ago.

Second in the early market at $5.50 is the Mick Price trained Rightfully Yours at $5.50. He has been in great form since he was gelded, and has won six of his last seven starts, including the last four in a row. Craig Newitt has ridden him for four of the last six wins and will be riding him in the Railway Stakes in his first ride at Ascot.

Marasco is third in the betting at $6.50, and is one of two starters for Ascot trainer Fred Kersley. Marasco is topweight with 57.5kg and has drawn wide in barrier 14. Marasco has had nine of his thirteen wins at Ascot including his last win on 8 November over 1400 metres at weight-for-age when he won by a length and a half. Kersley’s other runner is Grand Nirvana who has had all seven career starts at Ascot and his worst placing was fourth in the WA Guineas last week.

Gilded Venom is at $8.50 and has eight starts at Ascot for three wins, four seconds and a third. He is clearly a very good racehorse, but his best races seem to be at 1400 metres. Sniper’s Bullet is next in the market at $10. He will be ridden by Michael Rodd who will be riding at Ascot for the first time in five years. Rodd was the leading feature race rider of the Melbourne spring carnival, and had his first ride on Mudgee trained Sniper’s Bullet two starts back when he ran a top race to finish second behind All Silent in the Group 3 AAMI Travel Stakes.

David Hayes has two starters with Niconero ($17) and The Fuzz ($21) and Peter Moody also has two starts with Annenkov ($26) and Pillar of Hercules ($21). Glen Boss will be riding Pillar of Hercules and has never ridden at Ascot before.

Ascot trainer Neville Parnham has six-year-old gelding Tarzi who has three excellent placings lately in quality company. Parnham has won the trainer’s Premiership for ten consecutive years but has never managed to win a Railway Stakes.

The eight-year-old Hartley’s Dream will be running in the Railway Stakes for the fourth year in a row. He has never won a race at Ascot in his nineteen starts there, but has ran some very good placings. At his last start on 8 November he was third behind Marasco, but will meet the winner 5.5kg better at the weights.

by Jo Jackson