Races

Runner by Runner: Kingston Town Classic

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Regal Power (59kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 8

Caught the eye first-up in the Northerly Stakes when hitting the line against the pattern and then showed in the Lee Steere that he is back somewhere near the form he was in when he won the 2019 Railway Stakes and 2020 All Star Mile. Bob Peters read the play perfectly when bypassing the Railway Stakes to save him for the more suitable WFA Kingston Town Classic and WFA Van Heemst Stakes. Barrier means he probably snags back to last.

2. Trap For Fools (59kg)

Trainer: Lindsey Smith
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Barrier: 7

8-year-old warrior who is probably in the final racing preparation of his illustrious career. Was a horse the entire punting public fell in love with back in 2017 when he went on a winning spree that spanned over six consecutive outings including the Tatts Cup, Towton Cup and ATA Stakes in succession. Won a Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in November 2018 and since then has only tasted success once, in the 2020 Towton Cup when beating Neufbosc with 62kg. Trial Monday was poor. Will probably need the run.

3. Neufbosc (59kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Jason Brown
Barrier: 1

Reigning Perth Cup winner who is no doubt on a similar path for 2021/22. In 2020 he went from the Asian Beau (1400) to the Peters (1500) to the Carbine (1400) before the Kingston Town (1800) and onto the Towton Cup (2200), ATA Stakes (2200) and Perth Cup (2400). Came into this race last year fourth up and ran 15th beaten 9L at 30-1. This year Neville Parnham has raced in him the Northerly (1400), Northam Cup (1600), Peters (1500), Carbine (1400) and he attacks the Kingston Town Classic fifth up at 100-1. Just a steppingstone towards the #Cup.

4. Too Close The Sun (59kg)

Trainer: Lindsey Smith
Jockey: Joe Azzopardi
Barrier: 10

Probably didn’t get the run that he needed to be in the finish of the Railway Stakes. Not a stop-start type of horse, more of a momentum galloper who finds his rhythm and then gets rolling a fair way from home. The run in the 2020 Railway was much more suitable for him. Last year he was in arguably better form and ran fourth in the Kingston Town as a $7 chance beaten 3.5L. Are 2021 Peters Investments pair Western Empire and Regal Power a more formidable combination than Truly Great and Inspirational Girl of 2020? #foodforthought

5. Platoon (59kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Steven Parnham
Barrier: 5

Ran a much better race in the Railway Stakes when reeling off the third fastest L600 behind Western Empire and Notorious One. Unfortunately for Neville Parnham the fact he ran well is equally as encouraging as it is frustrating because as a m97 rater he has very little choice in where he goes next at this stage of the preparation. At least this year he has the option of going to the Listed Towton Cup (2200) or Listed ATA Stakes (2200) which are handicaps rather than heading to the Van Heemst like he did in 2020. If he’s going to win one, it’ll be a handicap not a WFA.

6. Notorious One (59kg)

Trainer: Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 6

Ran a Notorious One race in the Railway Stakes. Watch the replay with a smile and wonder what he could achieve if he had his ability with the brain of any other horse in the Gangemi yard. He is quirky, he is mad, but he is undeniably talented. On ability alone there is a big feature race in Notorious One, but when you’re running into the likes of Western Empire and Regal Power you need to do more right than wrong and he’s unlikely to ever tick that box. Still a legitimate top 3 hope and importantly reunites with Clint Johnston-Porter.

7. Western Empire (58.5kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 9

All conquering 4-year-old who has proven this preparation that he is the next big thing in WA and unfortunately for us won’t be in WA for long either. The Kingston Town Classic and possibly the Van Heemst Stakes will likely be the last two times we see him in the State for the foreseeable future as he heads East to fly the flag for Peters Investments. Since breaking his maiden on 31 January 2021 (just let that sink in) he hasn’t been beaten having won the Lex Piper Stakes (1600), JC Roberts Stakes (1800), Melvista Stakes (2200), WATC Derby (2400), Asian Beau (1400) and Railway Stakes (1600) in his last seven outings. Has to do it for the first time at WFA but it looks a mere formality which will be ticked off around 4:47pm on Saturday afternoon.

8. Dance Music (57kg)

Trainer: Simon Miller
Jockey: Brad Parnham
Barrier: 2

Parked up outside of Massimo in the Railway absorbing all the pressure of a high-speed mile. The race was run ~6L faster than Railway Average to the 1000 and the leading pair were gassed turning for home. In the Kingston Town she will again encounter a genuine speed with stablemates Trap For Fools and Too Close The Sun engaged but from the draw Brad Parnham can tuck her away in behind them this time. Looks a lovely map scenario for her and at WFA she gets big weight swings on many key rivals.

9. Kissonallforcheeks (56.5kg)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 4

On trial at the 1800m after running third in the Railway Stakes behind Western Empire and Comfort Me. Meets the favourite 2kg better at the weights heading into her first attempt at Weight For Age but when you consider that he was running away from them at the end of the mile it’s hard to see her being a legitimate chance of turning the tables on him with an extra 200m to cover. From the draw she should park midfield with cover and will allow Chris Parnham to give her whatever run he desires. Can conceivably run another Group 1 placing.

10. Searchin’ Roc’s (50kg)

Trainer: David Harrison
Jockey: Kyra Yuill
Barrier: 3

The sole 3-year-old representative in a race which has been won by a lot of youngsters in the last decade: Playing God (2010), Itsahymn (2013), Perfect Reflection (2015), Arcadia Queen (2018), Kay Cee (2019) as well as a number of placings: King Saul (2011), Disposition (2014), Achernar Star (2017) and Dom To Shoot (2020). Winner of 5 from 7 including the Belgravia Stakes (1200) and Champion Fillies (1600) this preparation and Kyra Yuill has spent 2 weeks working through the gruelling and unenviable task of getting her weight down to 50kg to ride. Arguably biggest winner at the barrier draw.

SELECTION: WESTERN EMPIRE

looked the winner of the Railway Stakes on paper and he looks the winner of the Kingston Town Classic on paper. The difference between the Railway and the Kingston Town is that you could get $1.85 Western Empire post barrier-draw in the Railway, you’ll be lucky to see $1.45 for the Kingston Town. Barrier draw throws in a minor curve ball so possibly a sneaky place heavy bet on Searchin’ Roc’s could be on the cards given the 3-year-old dominance over the years.

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