Races

Runner by Runner: Railway Stakes

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Resortman (57kg)

Trainer: Michael Lane
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Barrier: 1

Enjoying the preparation of his life. It began back in July with a fast finishing third over an unsuitable 1000m in the Beaufine before winning the HG Bolton (1200), Idyllic Prince (1400), Farnley (1400) and Eurythmic (1400) which has seen him progress from a m83 to a m107 in the space of just over 4 months. Both horse and trainer have done a massive job to keep producing start after start. Steps to a mile for the first time in his life, carries top weight in a Handicap and meets key rival Karli’s Karma 2kg worse at the weights from the Lee Steere. Logic says The Gold Rush is more his race.

2. Yonkers (56.5kg)

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Paul Harvey
Barrier: 11

7-year-old Chris Waller gelding who has travelled much of Australia since arriving in the Country as a maiden in 2019. Is a 10-time winner over a 44 start career but only 3 of those 10 wins have been in races shorter than 1800m. His Feature Race CV includes a surprise 40-1 victory in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes at 1500m at Rosehill in February 2021 and the Group 3 SA Chairmain’s Stakes at 2143m at Eagle Farm in May 2022. Has had 11 starts in 2022 and 9 of those have been beyond a mile. He’s here for the Northerly not the Railway.

3. God Has Chosen (55.5kg)

Trainer: Donna Riordan
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 17

Had a breakout Belmont Park winter which saw him win a 72+, 78+ and Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400) as well as finishing a luckless second to Kaptain Kaos in the Group 3 Hyperion (1600) before finishing third behind Prince Turbo and Marocchino in the Group 3 Strickland (2000) at his first staying test. Trials leading into this campaign left a bit to be desired and has raced accordingly finishing eighth in the Eurythmic and seventh in the Lee Steere. Visors added for his Grand Final but to the eye he’s just not going well enough.

4. Kaptain Kaos (55.5kg)

Trainer: Michael Grantham
Jockey: Lucy Warwick
Barrier: 3

Won the 2021 Northam Cup (1600) this time last year beating Luke’s Gold, Tellem We’re Comin and Western Temple and went around 40-1 in the 2021 Railway Stakes when sneaking in on the 53kg minimum. Carries effectively a 2.5kg weight penalty for winning the WFA Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600) at Belmont over winter and like God Has Chosen he’s simply not running to anywhere near that rating at the minute. Would be a great story if he won but hard to see him doing so off his runs in the Eurythmic or the Lee Steere.

5. Marocchino (55kg)

Trainer: Lou Luciani
Jockey: Jason Whiting
Barrier: 13

He has won an Albany Cup (2100), a Diggers Cup (1800), a (78+) Eurythmic Stakes (2150), a Tattersalls Cup (2100) and now a Northam Cup (1600) amassing over $850,000 in Prize Money and Bonus’. Brilliantly consistent galloper who much like his underrated stablemate Hot Zed just goes about his business without any glitz and glamour and gets the job done. Gives 110% each and every time he goes to the races and can park up over the speed behind Buster Bash. Rule out one of Lou Luciani’s at your peril, especially a tough on pacer like him, but he just doesn’t strike you as a Railway Stakes winner?

6. Comfort Me (54kg)

Trainer: Rhys Radford
Jockey: Peter Knuckey
Barrier: 19

Went into the 2021 Railway Stakes as the winner of three separate 72+ ratings races and a m90 rater. Went around a 30-1 chance on the 53kg minimum and ran out of his skin when finishing second to Western Empire. Nothing went right over Autumn when he didn’t fire a solitary shot in two runs before being spelled. Trialled the house down leading into his return in the Eurythmic Stakes (1400) when finishing fourth behind Resortman. Given every chance from leader’s back in the Lee Steere (1400) and only gets 1kg weight pull on Karli’s Karma for being beaten 2.5L behind her. The $1.5 million dollar question remains, is he going as well in 2022 as he was in 2021?

7. Alaskan God (53kg)

Trainer: Dan Morton
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 14

Wildly talented 4-year-old who put the writing on the wall at his return to racing. His 2022 calendar year has seen him win a Pinjarra maiden (1400), an Ascot Class 1 and 0MWLY (1800), a Melvista Stakes (2200) and a WATC Derby (2400) before being produced first-up, no trial in the Asian Beau when launching late from a mile off them to finish sixth only beaten 1.2L. Sectionally remarkable return when clocking the fastest L200 split of the entire program (faster than Black Type sprinter Miss Conteki) and put together two individual sub-11 second furlongs (10.98 from the 400 to 200 and 10.93 from the 200 to the post). Had to be balloted into the race ahead of first emergency Winning Partner (both m92) and rightfully so. Could be the next star of WA Racing.

8. Buster Bash (53kg)

Trainer: David Harrison
Jockey: Joseph Azzopardi
Barrier: 12

Takes the same path as Too Close The Sun in 2020 when he lead throughout to win the Ascot Gold Cup (now Luckygray Stakes) over 1800m on Champion Fillies Day and then backed up a week later into the Railway. Found the front and never looked like being beaten on Saturday when Paul Harvey was able to lead uncontested, stack them up and then accelerate away on the corner for a comfortable victory. Rock hard fit, gains the services of noted front running hoop Joey Azzopardi and adds an element of speed to the races. Can see him giving cheek, can’t see him pinching it.

9. Ironclad (53kg)

Trainer: Will Clarken
Jockey: Lachlan Neindorf
Barrier: 7

Prolific winner from the South Australian Stables of Will Clarken. Since arriving in Australia in February 2021 he has won a BM72, BM82, Listed CS Hayes Stakes at Morphettville (1600), Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo (1600) and Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville (1200). Half-brother to Group 1 ATC Metropolitan Handicap winner Mirage Dancer who has undeniable talent and versatility winning from 1200m to 2000m. Attacks the Railway Stakes third-up having finished third in the Linlithgow (Group 2 1400 at Flemington) and fourth in the Cranbourne Cup (1600). Big opportunity handed to a claiming apprentice in a Group One. Don’t rule him out.

10. Karli’s Karma (53kg)

Trainer: Summer Dickson
Jockey: Shaun O’Donnell
Barrier: 9

Burst onto the scene since joining the boutique stable of Summer Dickson. Beautifully put together Deep Field mare who missed a start in the Asian Beau Stakes as first emergency and was forced into the WFA Lee Steere Stakes. She was a m80 who would have carried 13.5kg less than Resortman (m107) and Massimo (m107) in (theoretical) Handicap conditions. For her to sit outside Massimo, head him on straightening and just peak in the last 50m was surely heart-breaking in the moment but in a Railway sense, it was a blessing for connections. Means she gets in on the 53kg minimum and makes her a very big chance. Must tick the mile box but was a huge winner at the barrier draw.

11. Last Of The Line (53kg)

Trainer: Stephen Miller
Jockey: Brad Parnham
Barrier: 18

Sparingly raced 6-year-old who ran well first-up in the Eurythmic Stakes when fifth behind Resortman and Comfort Me. From that race he meets Resortman 3kg better for being beaten 1.5L, meets Comfort Me 2.5kg better for being beaten 1L and beat home Marocchino, God Has Chosen and Notorious One. Almost lost his rider in the Asian Beau out of the gates when knuckling badly on jumping and finished fourth behind Searchin’ Roc’s in last weekend’s RJ Peters (1500). Meets her 5kg better for being beaten 1.5L and will likely go round a similar price to her. Is a 7-day gun (3 starts, 2 wins and a second) and could be the forgotten horse in the race.

12. Notorious One (53kg)

Trainer: Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jockey: Laqdar Ramoly
Barrier: 10

Equine Nick Kyrgios. Has all the ability in the world but an attitude that just doesn’t allow him to produce his best week in, week out. Worth remembering that this time last year he finished second to Western Empire in the Asian Beau (1400) and fourth in the Railway Stakes but at the same time it seems as though his propensity for finding excuses and bad luck is only getting worse. Hard horse to handle, hard horse to ride and even harder horse to watch, yet just like Nick he still has a loyal following.

13. Searchin’ Roc’s (53kg)

Trainer: Jim Taylor
Jockey: Kyra Yuill
Barrier: 2

Was one ‘refused to load’ barrier trial away from premature retirement before seemingly turning a corner. On behalf of the WA Racing Public thank you to every single person be it trainer, rider, strapper, educator, horse whisperer, barrier attendant or starter who have put the time, effort, energy and passion into getting her to a point where the barriers are friend not foe. She can ride the speed, she’s got a turn of acceleration, she’s got a will to win, and she has a rider who is willing to endure a week from hell to take the mount. If Devoted had won the Peters punters would have been jumping from trees to be on him, so why can’t Searchin’ Roc’s cause an upset? Biggest barrier draw winner.

14. Startrade (53kg)

Trainer: Dan Morton
Jockey: Chris Nicoll
Barrier: 4

Bred by Geraldton owners Trevor and Lesley Allen and won eight races at his home track before being rated out of country racing (had 64.5kg in a c70+ in April this year) and gives country rider Chris Nicoll a Group One opportunity. Has been on one big, long preparation since September 2021 and has raced in nine of the last 12 calendar months. Almost added an Asian Beau to his fairy-tale when missing by a head at 50-1 behind Treasured Star. Been a marvellous story to follow as he’s emerged through the metro grades but think the mile will see him out.

15. Treasured Star (53kg)

Trainer: Adam Durrant
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 20

Came into this preparation as the All-In Favourite for the Railway Stakes as a ballot exempt winner of the 2021 WA Guineas. Left all scratching their heads with a below par first-up performance in a 78+ when unable to make any impression late beaten over 2.5L. Bounced back in the Asian Beau Stakes when afforded every mortal hope from a favourable alley. Had everything in her favour in the Asian Beau and when you watch the replay it’s hard not to think that horses like Trix Of The Trade, Alaskan God and Searchin’ Roc’s would have won if you swap the barriers and swap the runs. Pike will need to work a miracle from the horror draw.

16. Trix Of The Trade (53kg)

Trainer: Colin Webster
Jockey: Troy Turner
Barrier: 8

Went on a winning spree as a 3-year-old notching up four consecutive victories, including the WA Breeders Classic (1400), Challenge Stakes (1500), Lex Piper Stakes (1600) before finishing runner-up in the JC Roberts Stakes (1800) and Melvista Stakes (2200). Quickly reminded punters of his prowess with a big first-up 72+ 1400m victory carrying 61kg when sitting three and four deep throughout (after copping a decent hip and shoulder from Devoted early stages). Backed it up in the Asian Beau when running into third from 14th on the corner clocking the second fastest L600 behind Alaskan God. Breeders Bill & Patricia Robinson knocked back seven figure offers for him last season and looking at the 2022 Railway – Wise move. Likely barrier 6 after emergencies come out. Big danger.

SELECTION: ALASKAN GOD

Punters and connections had to endure a nervous wait over the last few days as horses like Buster Bash and Searchin’ Roc’s leapfrogged him in the order of entry but as soon as it became official that he had been raised up the batting order to #16 and was guaranteed a start things started to get exciting. His race will be won or lost on whether Chris Parnham can keep him within striking distance and get him into clear air. Every time you watch his Asian Beau replay it gets better and the last five Railway Stakes winners used the Asian Beau as their lead-up: Western Empire, Inspirational Girl, Regal Power, Galaxy Star. Big respect Trix Of The Trade, Karli’s Karma and not dismissing Last Of The Line at odds.

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