Kingston Town Classic - 2020 tips, preview and runner by runner

2020 Kingston Town Classic Race Details

Race 8 at Ascot on Saturday 5 December 2020.

The Kingston Town Classic is an 1800 metre race for horses three-years-old and upwards run under weight-for-age conditions at Ascot. It is held by the Western Australia Turf Club two weeks after the Railway Stakes in December.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the Kingston Town Classic page.

Kingston Town Classic 2020 Preview

Track: Good Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 16 runners plus two remaining emergencies for the $1,000,000 Kingston Town Classic. Second emergency Naughty By Nature is an early scratching. Ten of the runners had their last start in the Group 1 Railway Stakes over 1600m at Ascot on a good track two weeks ago, while the five three-year-olds (two are emergencies) came through the Group 2 WA Guineas over 1600m two weeks ago or the Group 3 WA Champion Fillies over 1600m three weeks ago. There is one four-year-old, six five-year-olds, two six-year-olds, three seven-year-olds and a ten-year-old. There are two mares and two fillies, where one filly is an emergency.

The early favourite is Railway Stakes winner Inspirational Girl who has won her last three starts in a row but rises in weight here and has drawn barrier 18. Second favourite is three-year-old Dom To Shoot who ran on strongly for 3rd in the WA Guineas and drops 4.5 kg from that run. Third favourite is Too Close The Sun who ran 2nd in the Railway Stakes after a 4.2 length win in the Ascot Gold Cup on a heavy track at the start before.

Watch Me Dance is a three-year-old filly in great form who won the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes then a week later won the G2 WA Guineas. She has five wins and five places from her 11 starts and drops in weight. Kay Cee won this race as a filly last year carrying 50kg but has 56.5kg this year and will find it harder. Western Empire is an emergency and has only had three career starts but has shown plenty of promise, while Truly Great was 7th in the Railway Stakes after three consecutive wins but may struggle with the 59kg under weight-for-age. All other runners are currently 30 to 1 or longer, including Gailo Chop who ran 2nd in this race last year.

2020 Kingston Town Classic Runner by Runner

1. Gailo Chop

Ran 2nd in this race last year but has not been going as well this year.

2. Trap for Fools

His last start was the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup on 24 Ocotber where he finished 10th. He hasn’t won in over two years and this looks too hard.

3. Taxagano

He won the Group 3 Northerly Stakes when resuming but has struggled at his next three starts and finished 10th in the Railway Stakes.

4. Too Close the Sun

Ran 2nd in the Railway Stakes after a 4.2 length win in the Ascot Gold Cup over this distance on a heavy track at the start before. A genuine chance.

5. Missile Launch

Won the Kalgoorlie Cup over 2200m on 3 October but only finished 14th in the Railway Stakes, so looking to others.

6. Neufbosc

He hit the line strongly to win the Carbine Club of WA Stakes last start and although that was only over 1400m it was a promising run and he has a rough chance here.

7. Platoon

He has had three runs this preparation and hasn’t been far from the winner on each occasion. Chance at a place.

8. Cup Night

Finished 6th in the Railway Stakes and likes this track.

9. Arctic Stream

Has a good record at the track and distance but will find this tough.

10. Uni Time

Hit the line strongly for 3rd in the RailwayStakes and might like the rise in distance.

11. Truly Great

Was 7th in the Railway Stakes after three consecutive wins but may struggle with the 59kg under weight-for-age.

12. Inspirational Girl

Has won her last three starts in a row but rises in weight here and has drawn barrier 18.

13. Kay Cee

Won this race as a filly last year carrying 50kg but has 56.5kg this year and will find it harder.

14. Gemma’s Son

Has the benefit of a light weight and is not the worst.

15. Dom To Shoot

Ran on strongly for 3rd in the WA Guineas and drops 4.5 kg from that run.

16. Watch Me Dance

A three-year-old filly in great form who won the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes then a week later won the G2 WA Guineas. She has five wins and five places from her 11 starts and drops in weight.

17. Snickerdoodledandy – 1st Emergency

Has won three of her six starts and could surprise.

18. Naughty By Nature – 2nd Emergency – SCRATCHED

19. Western Empire – 3rd Emergency

Has only had three career starts but has shown plenty of promise,