Races

Runner by Runner: Railway Stakes

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Tuvalu (58kg)

Trainer: Lindsey Smith
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Barrier: 4

Natural starting point when assessing the 2023 Railway Stakes. Highest rated horse, best credentialled horse and a proven Group One Handicap Miler having won the 2022 Toorak at Caulfield before splitting Alligator Blood and Mr Brightside at WFA in the Group One Cantala Stakes at Flemington. Has had four runs this preparation finishing fourth to Mr Brightside in the P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400), third to Pinstriped in the Feehan Stakes (1600), second to Alligator Blood in the Underwood Stakes (1800) and most recently third behind Prowess in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley off a 35-day spacing. Will attack the Railway 4 weeks between runs and has competed at WFA or SWP at his last seven outings, in fact his last Handicap race was the Toorak when victorious. The obvious concern is the fact that only one horse in the last 10 years has carried more than 53.5kg to victory in the Railway and that was Luckygray in 2013 when winning his second Railway Stakes. Form on his side, history not. Big winner at the barrier draw.

2. Marocchino (57kg)

Trainer: Lou Luciani
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 14

One of the more interesting runners to line up in the race. In 2022 Marocchino lead them up in the Railway Stakes with 55kg and faded back through the field to finish 11th beaten 5.3L as a m103 rater. In the proceeding 12-month period he has won an AJ Scahill Cup (2100m), a Van Heemst Stakes (2100m), a Detonator Stakes (1800m) and more recently an Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) seeing his rating hike to m112 and meaning that he will carry 2kg more than what he did in last year’s edition. Chris Parnham has elected to jump off Searchin’ Roc’s to ride Marocchino and Lou Luciani has him going better than he was at the same stage last year. He’s on speed, he’s tough, he gets conditions to suit (hot day with an Easterly breeze) and he gets rivals out of their comfort zone a fair way from home. The kind of horse who will come back to bite you (literally) if you write him off.

3. Comfort Me (54kg)

Trainer: Rhys Radford
Jockey: Peter Knuckey
Barrier: 18

You have to admire Comfort Me’s consistency and his ability to match it with the best every time he steps out onto a race course, however, the simple fact is that he hasn’t won a race since Mitchell Pateman rode him to victory over 1500m in a 72+ on the 6th of November 2021. A fortnight after that victory he split Western Empire and Kissonallforcheeks in the 2021 Railway Stakes, in 2022 he split Trix Of The Trade and Startrade in the same race before finishing third only a half length off The Astrologist and Kissonallforcheeks in the Gold Rush. Second in the Joey, second in the Northam Stakes, third in the Eurythmic, third in the Lee Steere – there’s a theme here and unfortunately it’s the same story over and over with Comfort Me. He’s the winner of over $1,000,000 in Stake Money and he’s a m106 rated horse but he’s never won past 72+ grade and he’s drawn a shocking alley.

4. Dom To Shoot (54kg)

Trainer: Sean & Jake Casey
Jockey: Jordan Turner
Barrier: 12

Has had a really solid last 12 months since winning under Damien Oliver on Winterbottom Stakes Day in 2022. Made his way through the staying races last season culminating in running fifth in the Perth Cup over 2400m. Remarkable training performance to bring him back to the races 3 months later in a WFA Joey (1200) and finish only half a length off Baby Paris and Comfort Me before winning the Northam Stakes (1300) and placing in the Hyperion (1600), Strickland (2000) and Lee Steere (1400) when finishing on the heels of Valour Road and beating home Railway rivals Comfort Me, Massimo, Bustler, The Velvet Queen, Marocchino, Trix Of The Trade, Startrade and Last Of The Line in the process. Sat three deep the trip in that event and showed he’s up to them and he’s back at his best.

5. Roots (54kg)

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Barrier: 15

Picked up her first feature race success at Filles & Mare level in the 2022 Inglis Bracelet at Flemington before heading on to bigger and better things this year having added a Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1500) and a Group Two Hot Danish Stakes (Breeders Classic) (1400) at Rosehill. Goes into the Railway fourth-up off a traditional 14 day spacing and while she’s a last start Group Two winner she has raced almost exclusively in Filles & Mares races throughout her career, in fact, of her 20 career starts 15 of them have been against her own sex. Blinkers went on last start and she seemingly went to a new level justifying a trip to Perth. How you line up the Fillies & Mares form with the rest is a difficult assessment to make, but keep in mind that last year Kissonallforcheeks won a Group Two Let’s Elope and went on to be beaten a nose in the Winterbottom and Gold Rush. Not dissimilar? Barrier has thrown a spanner in the works.

6. Trix Of The Trade (54kg)

Trainer: Colin Webster
Jockey: Troy Turner
Barrier: 1

Reigning winner of the Railway Stakes – but the questions on everyone’s mind are: where’s he at? Is he going anywhere near as well as he was this time last year? And, can he bounce back? He accelerated brilliantly last year to put the race away in the matter of strides and pull clear for a near 2L victory under an elated Troy Turner. Far from disgraced at WFA in the 2022 Northerly Stakes a fortnight later when only 2.3L off star filly Amelia’s Jewel, however it’s his subsequent runs in the 2023 Quokka (1200), Eurythmic (1400) and Lee Steere (1400) that has many starting to question whether or not he can again rise to the heights of 2022. He was bumped and unbalanced late in the piece in the Lee Steere and it wasn’t a day that you could make ground so he was unsuited by the pattern but he’ll need to find a few lengths on Saturday and he’ll need to get himself out of a stack of traffic from three or four back the fence.

7. Alsephina (53kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 7

Has been a winner ever since she set foot on a race track back in April 2022. Winner of 9 from 12 in her career, yet to finish further back than third and a winner from 1100m to 1800m. She’s got class, she’s got a turn of acceleration and she boasts a jockey/trainer combination that has won five individual Railway Stakes over the last decade – Elite Belle (2014), Galaxy Star (2018), Regal Power (2019), Inspirational Girl (2020) and Western Empire (2021). She has been beaten in both runs back, however, on Saturday she didn’t get the right run in a messily run race and her last 100m was her best 100m suggesting that she’s ready now. When you couple her replay run with dropping 6kg in weight, a set of blinkers for the first time and an ideal barrier (likely 6 come race day) she really starts to profile like a Railway Stakes winner. Very hard to beat.

8. Bustler (53kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Steven Parnham
Barrier: 2

Has looked a Railway horse for 12 months and is one who really hasn’t had the opportunity to show his best this time in. As a 3-year-old he won a Fairetha Stakes (1400) and a Belmont Sprint at WFA beating the older horses. Finished 2.7L off Karli’s Karma, Valour Road and Comfort Me after tracking deep throughout in the Eurythmic Stakes and then was held up from on straightening til the 150m in the Lee Steere before laying outwards and bumping into horses thereafter. Drops 6kg from WFA back into Handicap conditions and showed in the Guineas last year at 1600m that he wasn’t that far off a genuine top-liner like Amelia’s Jewel. Probably would have preferred to draw barrier 6 – 10 so that he could stay in the moving line but Stevie Parnham is a dedicated form student who gets his maps right more often then not.

9. Forgot You (53kg)

Trainer: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Jockey: Daniel Moor
Barrier: 19

Won a Group Two Stutt Stakes (1600) and a Group Two Vase (2040) at Moonee Valley as a 3 year old before making his way to the Victoria Derby over 2500m back in 2021 finishing fifth behind Hitotsu. Returned for another four runs as a 3 year old between February and April in 2022 before going amiss in the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick. Didn’t race for 504 days until returning this season on 19 August over 1400m when finishing 4.4L off Mr Brightside in a P.B Lawrence Stakes. Has been building and building in subsequent runs and finally broke through last start at Listed Level in the Melbourne Cup Day Plate over 1800m. That was a high speed, high pressure race where the first 1200m was run 21L faster than average and he simply outstayed them. Wonder whether at this stage of his preparation the drop back to a mile could be a bit sharp? Big drifter since final fields Monday.

10. Karli’s Karma (53kg)

Trainer: Summer Dickson
Jockey: Michael Poy
Barrier: 8

Demonstrated raw ability and potential in 2022 when running second in a Lee Steere at WFA beaten a nose by Massimo after a 3L win in a lowly 66+ ratings race. She wasn’t at her brilliant self in the 2022 Railway or the inaugural Gold Rush and went for a spell. Has had an interesting preparation with a pipe opening run at Belmont over 1000 before a big win in the Eurythmic Stakes off a 7-week freshen. She attacks the Railway Stakes 5 weeks between runs with Summer Dickson taking the fresh is best approach with her star mare. She’s yet to win at a mile but in winning the Eurythmic Stakes she knocked off Valour Road (winner of the 2023 Lee Steere) and Railway rivals Comfort Me, Massimo, Bustler, Trix Of The Trade, Startrade and Marocchino. She’s got X-Factor, she’s got blinkers first time and she’s got a barrier – dangerous.

11. Last Of The Line (53kg)

Trainer: Stephen Miller
Jockey: Brad Parnham
Barrier: 13

Went around a 20-1 chance in the 2022 Railway Stakes with 53kg when beaten 3.3L into fifth and has since gone on to win a Strickland Stakes (2000) and showed that he was in good shape when running third at his return behind Marocchino and Alsephina in the Asian Beau Stakes. Like Marocchino he backed up off 7 days into the Lee Steere Stakes and neither of them brought their best to the table. Last Of The Line had excuses with trainer SJ Miller later reporting that his gelding was found to have a near fore hoof abscess and has since received farriery and veterinary treatment. In the last 10 days SJ Miller and Brad Parnham have combined for 4 winners (Red Tori, Great Demon, Holy Enchantment and Black Spirit) but this one will jump 100-1.

12. Massimo (53kg)

Trainer: Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 17

Tries his heart out and gives 110%. Has slowly but surely come back down through the handicapping system since hitting a peak rating of m110 back in 2021 after winning his first Lee Steere Stakes. Won that same 1400m WFA feature 12 months later in 2022 and instead of heading to a Railway the Gangemi Brothers hatched a plan to attack the Winterbottom fresh and then the inaugural Gold Rush. Another year passes and Massimo is now a 7 year old who is again being targeted at the Railway Stakes over a mile. He’s on the minimum, he’s been solid in both runs this preparation when fourth in the Eurythmic and Lee Steere and importantly there’s been money around for him in both outings which coming from a betting stable is a great indication that he’s impressing behind the scenes. Likely has to burn the candle at both ends now from the draw.

13. Mojo Rhythm (53kg)

Trainer: Mitchell Pateman
Jockey: Holly Watson
Barrier: 6

Gives Mitchell Pateman his second Group One starter in successive years reaffirming his position as one of the most exciting young trainers in the State and gives Holly Watson her first Group One ride after gaining a last minute start in the Railway Stakes by winning the Group 3 R.J Peters Stakes at Ascot last weekend over 1500m. He will meet Alsephina 5kg worse at the weights after beating her by half a length 7 days earlier and with that weight swing it’s hard to see him beating her again. Likely to be the roughie of the field and likely to concede them a big head start. A first half finish would be a feather in the cap for horse, trainer and rider and after Tuesday’s barrier draw he’s a chance of making that dream a reality.

14. Searchin’ Roc’s (53kg)

Trainer: Jim Taylor
Jockey: Jason Brown
Barrier: 5

Has a very respectable CV as the winner of the 2021 Belgravia Stakes (1200), Champion Fillies (1600), 2022 Belmont Oaks (2000), R.J Peters Stakes (1500) and 2023 Farnley Stakes (1400). This season she’s successfully attacked a Farnley Stakes first-up at Belmont Park and then gone 8 weeks between runs into an Asian Beau where she was backed into $4.20 and jumped on the second line of betting behind Alsephina. Considering she was three deep the trip without cover and was only beaten 3.2L she’s arguably the forgotten horse in the 2023 Railway. Big pick-up ride for Jason Brown who will channel his inner Jack Ginnivan (actually quite a few similarities….) as he joins the starting line-up on Grand Final Day. One of the better roughies.

15. Startrade (53kg)

Trainer: Dan Morton 
Trainer: Chris Nicoll
Barrier: 10

Has been a marvel of many a season for owner breeders Leslie and Trevor Allan. Won a Northam maiden in 2020 and then picked up 8 individual race wins in Geraldton as he worked his way to the very top of mid-west racing. Joining Danny Morton in May 2022 he has added another four victories to his name including a Jolly Beggar Stakes (1000) and a Hyperion (1600). Went around at 40-1 in last year’s Railway and finished third behind Trix Of The Trade and Comfort Me. Not getting any younger and to the eye not going as well as he was in 2022, however, he’s a trier and he’s been a giant killer on more than one occasion. Going better than numerical form suggests but still looks up against it this year.

16. The Velvet Queen (53kg)

Trainer: Darren McAuliffe
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 16

Stamped herself as a Railway Stakes contender when matching motors with The Velvet Queen in a mouthwatering clash in the La Trice Classic over 1800m on Perth Cup Day before going onto win back to back $100,000 84+ ratings races. Heading into winter she showed she was up to them at WFA level when going toe to toe with Bustler in the Belmont Sprint missing by the narrowest of margins. The jury was out after her two lacklustre trials at Lark Hill but like good mares do she turned up on race day when resuming at WFA in the Group 2 Lee Steere and was eye-catching late in the piece running home in the fastest L800, 600, 400 & 200. Likely ends up near last in a capacity line-up which makes things difficult at this level.

SELECTION: ALSEPHINA

Raw ratings suggest that Roots will be very hard to beat if she runs up to her last start career best figure but post-barrier draw she looks vulnerable. Tuvalu has the best form of any horse in this field and there’s no doubting he’s had the right preparation but he’ll need to write himself into the history books with 58kg on a 38 degree day. Here’s hoping we see the first Group One trophy of the Pinnacles stay in WA and Alsephina looks the mare who can get the job done. Alsephina could beckon a new era for Grant & Alana Williams in post-Peters Investments life if she was to win the training partnership their sixth Railway Stakes in the last 10 years. Recent history suggests the winner is most likely on the minimum and she’s off 7 days, down 6kg and has the shades on. Got out to as much as $7.50 around the traps on Monday after final fields but post barrier draw she’s back into early favouritism.

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