Races

Runner by Runner: Railway Stakes

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Kementari (58kg)

Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 1

Flying the flag for Godolphin in the Railway Stakes with stablemate Trekking heading the market for next weekend’s Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes. Had his first start in the West in the Lee Steere Stakes when caught three deep the trip and fought on bravely into third when beaten under 2L. Meets Kay Cee at level weights here and gains the services of a highly in form Chris Parnham. Is a Group 1 winner at 1600m in the Randwick Guineas but that was also 987 days ago. Box seat gives him every chance.

2. Material Man (58kg)

Trainer: Justin Warwick
Jockey: Paul Harvey
Barrier: 9

Is now a 9-year-old but has been a wonderful campaigner with victories in the Prince of Wales, Bunbury Cup, Northam Cup, Perth Cup, Belmont Sprint, Hyperion Stakes and two Strickland Stakes (2018 & 2020) throughout his illustrious career. Ran fifth in the 2017 Railway beaten under a length by Great Shot and third in the 2018 Railway behind Galaxy Star. First-up at a mile is tough but if anyone can do it, JT Warwick is the man.

3. Gailo Chop (57kg)

Trainer: Matthew Williams
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Barrier: 20

Lightly raced 10-year-old veteran is a 3 time Group 1 winner in Australia (2015 Mackinnon Stakes, 2017 Caulfield Stakes & 2018 Ranvet Stakes). Comes into this fourth up in the preparation and did run a very cheeky second to Kay Cee in the 2019 Kingston Town Classic. At his age you would think a handicap mile is beyond him but keep him in mind for the Kingston Town and Perth Cup (if he stays around). Trialled impressively Monday but the barrier is nothing short of heartbreaking.

4. Kay Cee (56kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Jason Brown
Barrier: 13

Has claims as the most popular horse in WA and looms large after her stunning first-up to second-up turnaround. Was a somewhat surprising plunge nationwide in the Northerly Stakes when $7.5 into $2.9 before running 11th beaten almost 4L. Second-up was the other way in the market when $5 out to $9 but bounced back to her brilliant best. Already boasts a CV with a Burgess Queen Stakes, Kingston Town Classic, Raconteur Stakes, Belmont Guineas and Lee Steere Stakes and looks a genuine top 2 Railway contender in 2020 after drawing to find her favourite position, three deep with cover.

5. Spiritual Warrior (55.5kg)

Trainer: Justin Warwick
Jockey: Lucy Warwick
Barrier: 7

Returning to the races after suffering from heart fibrillation during a winter spell. You would think he is commencing a Perth Cup / Sydney Cup type of preparation and while he has been given 3 trials in preparation for his first-up assignment it looks like he’ll find these too slick. Joined Justin Warwick as a m64 rater in June of 2019 and amazingly took 12 starts to win his first race for the camp before charging through the grades to his peak rating of m104. Not his Grand Final.

6. Taxagano (54.5kg)

Trainer: Fred Kersley
Jockey: Peter Knuckey
Barrier: 4

Has been a surprise packet this preparation and even had one of the nation’s sharpest equine minds in Hall of Fame trainer Fred Kersley scratching his head after a 100-1 shock victory first-up in the Northerly Stakes. Bypassed the 2019 Railway Stakes as he embarked on a staying preparation but with the way he is going you can’t fully discount him as he returns to handicap conditions. Connections would be delighted with the perfect draw.

7. Great Shot (54kg)

Trainer: Rhys Radford
Jockey: Craig Staples
Barrier: 3

May well be at his Swansong. Is now an 8-year-old who hasn’t won a race since his 2017 Railway Stakes victory and isn’t quite showing the same level of fight which has been characteristic of his highly consistent, tough and honest career. Winner of over $1.4 million in Stakes but will go around as one of the roughies. Big winner at the barrier draw, can take up the running from there.

8. Red Can Man (53.5kg)

Trainer: Steve Wolfe
Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
Barrier: 10

Is one of the new kids on the block and a definite up and comer of WA racing. Winner of the Fairetha Stakes as a 3 year old at 1400m, an HG Bolton Sprint over 1200m in Winter and put the writing on the wall with placings to the top two market elects Inspirational Girl and Kay Cee in the Asian Beau and Lee Steere Stakes respectively. Gets a big weight swing on Kay Cee to the tune of 4.5kg for a three-quarter length defeat last start. Steve Wolfe and Shaun McGruddy have timed their run to perfection and connections have purchased tailormade Red Can dress shirts. Mothers milk will flow for days if Red Can Man salutes.

9. Cup Night (53kg)

Trainer: Bernie Miller
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 8

Has the X-Factor and turn of acceleration to win a Railway. He was enormous in the Northerly Stakes tracking up in the three-wide train from the 800 and let down brilliantly, clocking the fastest last 1200, 1000, 800, 600 & 400 and equal fastest L200. Complete and utter train wreck in the Asian Beau Stakes when crowded, restrained, galloped on and knocked out of contention at the 1200m mark of a 1400m race. Trialled Monday to get the tick of approval from Pat Carbery and Bernie Miller and would complete a family fairy-tale if he did get up.

10. Dance Music (53kg)

Trainer: Simon Miller
Jockey Jade McNaught
Barrier: 19

Was arguably career best in the Northam Cup when leaving rivals in a cloud of dust at the furlong when accelerating sharply to win soft. Proved herself at a mile last start but there has to still be a query on the quality of the form and the lingering memory of just how hot the rail was that day. Tactical speed is a huge help but worry about how much fuel she burns early and whether she’s the mare who has to tramp three-wide outside Great Shot/Too Close The Sun.

11. Inspirational Girl (53kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 11

Worked her way through the grades in an exhibition of patience and programming by Peters Investments and the genius that is Teams Williams. Could nearly have got to this point undefeated after only tasting defeat twice; once against the pattern on a leaders day at Ascot in a race run 5L slower than average when she charged home from an impossible position to miss by a nose and then when 56 days between runs with 59kg when still clocking the fastest last 1000, 800, 600, 400 & 200 of the day. High class mare, high class stable, high class jockey, perfectly weighted and perfectly drawn.

12. Missile Launch (53kg)

Trainer: Vaughn Sigley
Jockey: Troy Turner
Barrier: 17

Takes an alternate path to the Railway Stakes after winning the 2020 Kalgoorlie Cup at 2200m over the traditional, annual race round. Dropped back to a mile in the Northam Cup when finishing third behind Dance Music, beaten 3L. Gets 3kg on Dance Music but need to take a quantum leap forward from that to be winning a Group 1 at this distance.

13. Platoon (53kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Brad Parnham
Barrier: 14

Really came of age this time last year when taking the step from 72+ grade into Group 3 company when second in the RJ Peters and then finished third behind Regal Power and Best of Days in the 2019 Railway Stakes. Ran extremely well first-up in the Northerly and then looked unsuited at Weight For Age conditions in the Lee Steere when passing a few late. Like last year gets in on the minimum and with the draw he is likely to track every move stablemate Kay Cee makes. Neville Parnham has a second live chance in the race.

14. Too Close The Sun (53kg)

Trainer: Lindsey Smith
Jockey: Joseph Azzopardi
Barrier: 16

Backs up off 7 days after destroying them in the Ascot Gold Cup over 1800m on a Heavy8 last weekend. Half-brother to Trap For Fools and looks to be on the same upward trajectory toward Group 1 success. He will roll forward and attempt to take them all out of their comfort zone at the 600. Will likely look the winner turning for home and profiles very similarly to Lindsey Smith’s previous winner Scales of Justice. Gate is no worry to him; he’ll use the back straight to slowly work across to the breeze before giving Great Shot a stare down at the 600.

15. Truly Great (53kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 18

Burst onto the scene this preparation with emphatic back to back ratings wins before securing the Golden Ticket into the Railway Stakes last weekend with a victory in the RJ Peters Stakes. Lightly raced, highly progressive, effortless turn of speed and knows how to win. Sounds very much like Galaxy Star and Regal Power (and Inspirational Girl) so while he doesn’t have the rating or the runs on the board like many of his opponents, he does have potential. The barrier draw means it might be the 2021 Railway for him.

16. Uni Time (53kg)

Trainer: Sharon Miller
Jockey: Jason Whiting
Barrier: 12

Won the 2019 Carbine Club of WA Stakes on Railway Day and in doing so copped the wrath of the handicapper when receiving a 14-point (7kg) penalty. Has had six starts since and finished no better than fifth and no closer to the winner than 2.2L. That being said his two runs this preparation have been his best of the last 12 months. Still needs to produce a personal best to finish in the money.

SELECTION: Too Close The Sun

Highly promising stayer but more than capable of matching it with the best in WA at 1600m, especially in handicap conditions. He looks like gliding across to find the fence or at worst the breeze and will ensure this is a genuine test and an extremely high-pressure race. Inspirational Girl and Kay Cee will be making their runs at him late while Red Can Man will track his every move and is as tough as Steve Wolfe’s new chompers. Brilliant race but I have a real soft spot for horses like Scales of Justice, Trap for Fools and Too Close The Sun who can do it at both ends.

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