2020 Railway Stakes Race Details

Race 8 at Ascot on Saturday 21 November 2020.

The Railway Stakes is a 1600 metre open handicap race run by the Western Australia Turf Club at Ascot. It is held during November and is the first of the three Group 1 races of the Perth summer racing carnival.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the Railway Stakes page.

Railway Stakes 2020 Preview

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 16 runners plus 4 emergencies for the $1,000,000 Railway Stakes and eight of them had their last start in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes over 1400m on 7 November, four in the Listed Northam Cup over 1600m on 25 October and three in the Group 3 R.J. Peters Stakes over 1500m on 14 November. There are two four-year-olds, eight five-year-olds, five six-year-olds, two seven-year-olds, an eight-year-old, a nine-year-old and a ten-year-old. Three of the runners are mares.

The early favourite is five-year-old mare Inspirational Girl who won the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes last start and has eight wins and two placings from 10 starts. Second favourite is Lee Steere Stakes winner Kay Cee who has seven wins and three places from 12 starts. Third favourite is Too Close The Sun who won the Listed Ascot Gold Cup over 1800m last outing and is coming back in distance.

Red Can Man has been placed in the Asian Beau and Lee Steere at his last two starts.  Truly Great won the Group 3 R.J. Peters Stakes last start giving him three wins from three starts this campaign. Kementari finished 3rd in the Lee Steere. Platoon has had two starts ths campaign for 2nd in the Northerly Stakes then 6th in the Lee Steere. Cup Night finished 6th in the Asian Beau Stakes while Gailo Chop was 5th in the Caulfield Stakes.  All other runners are currently 40 to 1 or longer including 2017 winner Great Shot.

2020 Railway Stakes Runner by Runner

1. Kementari

This six-year-old Lonhro gelding has raced three times this campaign for 4th in the G2 Gilgai Stakes, 5th in the G1 Manikato Stakes and 3rd in the G2 Lee Steere Stakes. He races consistently well but hasn’t won since the 2018 Randwick Guineas.

2. Material Man

Resumimg from a 19 week spell, this nine-year-old goes well first-up and has had two trials. He finished 3rd in this race in 2018.

3. Gailo Chop

He is the oldest horse in the race and this ten-year-old has drawn the outside barrier. He has raced at Ascot once before when he finished 2nd to Kay Cee in the 2019 Kingston Town Classic. At his latest start he was 5th in the Caulfield Stakes.

4. Kay Cee

One of three mares in this race, she has seven wins and three places from 12 starts. She resumed after 17 weeks for 3.82 lengths 11th in the G3 Northerly Stakes, then charged late for a lovely 0.67 length win in the Lee Steere Stakes. A very smart mare who won the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic last year and could win this.

5. Spiritual Warrior

This six-year-old Blackfriars gelding is resuming here from a 31 week spell. He has had three lead-up trials but hasn’t won first-up before and I doubt that will change here.

6. Taxagano

He resumed for a win in the Northerly Stakes, followed by 3.82 lengths in the Asian Beau Stakes and 2.87 lengths 7th in the Lee Steere. Not the worst.

7. Great Shot

Won this race in 2017 when he was a five-year-old giving trainer Rhys Radford his first Group 1 winner. Finished 3.51 lengths 9th in the Northerly and 3,25 lengths 8th in the Lee Steere at his last two starts.

8. Red Can Man

This four-year-old hasn’t won beyond 1400m but has been placed in the Asian Beau and Lee Steere at his last two starts. One of the chances.

9. Cup Night

Finished 4th in the Northerly Stakes then 6th in the Asian Beau Stakes.

10. Dance Music

She has 9 wins and 6 places from 19 starts. She won the Listed Northam Cup over 1600m by 2.78 lengths at her latest start. This is a big rise in grade but she is up to the challenge.

11. Inspirational Girl

This five-year-old mare won the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes last start and has eight wins and two placings from 10 starts. A horse with those statistics has to be one of the main chances.

12. Missile Launch

He won the Kalgoorlie Cup over 2200m on 3 October then dropped in distance for 2.75, 0.25 lengths 3rd in the Northam Cup. This looks too hard.

13. Platoon

Has had two starts this campaign for 2nd in the Northerly Stakes then 6th in the Lee Steere. He finished 3rd in this race last year and is worth including in the trifectas.

14. Too Close the Sun

This five-year-old won the Listed Ascot Gold Cup over 1800m last outing and is coming back in distance. Don’t dismiss him.

15. Truly Great

He won the Group 3 R.J. Peters Stakes last start giving him three wins from three starts this campaign. Has drawn very wide but is still in the mix.

16. Uni Time

Finished 5th in both the Asian Beau and the Lee Steere at his last two. Will run well but don’t think he can win here.

17. Arctic Stream – 1st Emergency

Resumed after 21 weeks for 10th in the Lee Steere. This looks too tough.

18. Media Baron – 2nd Emergency

Has finished in the back half of the field at his last four runs. Not here.

19. Pym’s Royale – 3rd Emergency

Looks outclassed.

20. True Attraction – 4th Emergency

Not expected to get a start.

Railway Stakes 2020 Tips

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
4 Kay Cee
11 Inspirational Girl
14 Too Close the Sun
8 Red Can Man

Previews for other races this week

Group 2 WA Guineas 2020 (Ascot 1600m)

Listed Ballarat Cup 2020 (Ballarat 2000m)

Listed Kilmore Cup 2020 (Kilmore 1600m) – Sunday 22 November

2020 Railway Stakes Results

The track was rated as Good 4

Scratchings were 17e. Arctic Stream, 18e. Media Baron, 19e. Pym’s Royale, 20e. True Attraction.

Result Horse Margin
1st 11. Inspirational Girl
2nd 14. Too Close The Sun 1.8 lengths
3rd 16. Uni Time 2 lengths
4th 8. Red Can Man 2.1 lengths