Races

Runner by Runner: Railway Stakes

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Western Empire (58kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: Billy Egan
Barrier: 1

Lex Piper Stakes, JC Roberts Stakes, Melvista Stakes, WATC Derby, Asian Beau Stakes, Railway Stakes, Northam Stakes, Belmont Sprint, Gold Rush, Hyperion Stakes and now All-In Equal Favourite for a second Railway Stakes as an 8 year old; what a phenomenal horse. Already a stakes earner in excess of $3,000,000 and sectionally he was outstanding at his return in the Lee Steere Stakes. On face value he finished fifth as a beaten favourite, however, he clocked the fastest overall L1200, 1000, 800, 600, 400 & 200 of the race and what would have pleased Grant & Alana Williams most is that his L200 was ~1.5L faster than key rival Super Smink. History is against him: the last 11 Railway winners have carried either 53 or 53.5kg, that’s his hurdle.

2. Magnificent Andy (57.5kg)

Trainer: Stephen Miller
Jockey: Brad Parnham
Barrier: 10

Does look quite harshly dealt with in a handicapping sense when you compare his CV to that of Western Empire, and the fact that ultimately there’s only half a kilo between them. As wonderfully consistent and brave as Magnificent Andy is, he has ‘only’ won a Hannans Handicap, a Joey, a Hyperion and the inaugural $1,000,000 Golden Saddle. If you’re going to make a case for Andy to win the Railway Stakes then it’s based majorly off the 2025 Hyperion Stakes where Western Empire beat him by a head at WFA and you’re suggesting that the half kilo swing is enough to turn the tables. It looks a stretch.

3. Iowna Merc (56.5kg)

Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
Barrier: 9

Listed, Group Three and Group Two winner from NSW who heads across to Western Australia for Bjorn Baker and a handy pick up ride for local hoop Shaun McGruddy. This 6 year old has really come of age this calendar year, with wins in the Christmas Classic (Listed 1200m Quality), Liverpool City Cup (Group Three 1300m Quality) and Ajax Stakes (Group Two 1500m Quality) taking his metro rating from m93 to m110. Ran second to Rothfire in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick second-up at 1200m at WFA and then seemingly didn’t handle the Soft7 conditions at Flemington in the Russel Balding when beaten an alarming 18L. Carried 52kg in a Doncaster last preparation at his only attempt at Group One level and was beaten a margin. Looks a 4th – 10th type.

4. Super Smink (56kg)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 15

Attacks the Railway third-up in 2025 after going into the race fourth-up in 2024 when running a fast finishing third behind Port Lockroy and Comfort Me. In 2024 she won the Asian Beau (1400m Handicap) and carried 53kg in the Railway, in 2025 she won the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m WFA) and will carry 56kg. There’s no doubt her task is more difficult this year than it was last year, however, you could also make the case that she’s going even better this year compared to last. That lead-up feature victory probably cost her 54/54.5kg rather than 56kg which could be difference in a Handicap Mile which has been dominated by those at the bottom end of the weights scale in recent times.

5. In Good Order (55.5kg)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 2

In Good Order nearly caused a massive boilover in the Lee Steere Stakes when ambling up past Comfort Me and looking fleetingly to have Super Smink’s measure. Ultimately she was a bit sharper than him (as to be expected) over the concluding stages but that was some return. He went into the Van Heemst Stakes (Group Two 2100 WFA) last year as a m88 rater and winning saw him skyrocket to a m105. Quality stayers fresh in the Lee Steere actually have a good record (think Casino Seventeen, Star Exhibit, Gatting) and he almost added his name to that list. Could we have seen the Perth Cup winner of 2026? Railway – Northerly – Van Heemst – Perth Cup, four more runs and we’ll find out.

6. Osipenko (55kg)

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Tim Clark
Barrier: 17

Heads to WA off the back of a weight carrying win in the Little Dance at Randwick last start, on a Soft7, lumping a monster 62kg (in a race with a 52kg min!), however, diving deeper into the form out of that race, there has been five subsequent runners in the fortnight period and there was only one place getter, the runner-up Hollywood Hero who went to a BM88 (think WA 78+) and ran a well beaten third (3.4L off the winner). Is clearly a horse who likes wet tracks, Listed 2000m Soft 7 winner and Group 3 1600m placed on a Heavy8 so on paper it looks like he was placed to perfection in the Little Dance and got conditions to suit. The last time Tim Clark rode him he finished fourth behind Pericles, Private Eye and With Your Blessing in a Tramway – that’s the run that could see him win.

7. Comfort Me (54.5kg)

Trainer: Rhys Radford
Jockey: Ms Holly Watson
Barrier: 6

Ran second to Western Empire in the 2021 Railway Stakes, ran second to Trix Of The Trade in the 2022 Railway Stakes, ran seventh behind Bustler in the 2023 Railway Stakes, ran second in the 2024 Railway Stakes splitting Port Lockroy and Super Smink (with an excuse too!). He’s now contesting his fifth straight Railway as a 9 year old, it’s a remarkable effort and to consider he’s finished second at Group One Level three times is just incredible. Picked up a point in the Lee Steere (harsh) but you know what you’re going to get with him, he’s a proven Handicap Miler and he’s on speed and tough as they come. Would be a fairytale for Rhys Radford and Holly Watson and with a 3.5kg weight swing on Super Smink and Western Empire there’s actually a decent case to be made for the old boy.

8. Diamond Scene (54.5kg)

Trainer: Michael Grantham
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 8

Was in the Perth Cup lead up races this time last year, but he’s clearly elevated again as a 6 year old. In 2024 he won the 78+ 1400 on Opening Day before two starts later winning the Luckygray Stakes before winning an ATA on his way to running second to Hemlock Stone in the 2025 Perth Cup. This time around Michael Grantham produced him first-up into the Eurythmic and he was too good for Comfort Me and Watch Me Rock. From that encounter he meets Comfort Me on level weights and Watch Me Rock half a kilo worse. Like the move to race him fresh five weeks between runs, but realistically CJP/Micky G & Bob would have preferred if this was Cosmic Crusader at 53kg than Diamond Scene at 54.5kg. $3.50 favourite vs $21 chance.

9. Bustler (54kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Steven Parnham
Barrier: 14

Was the second leg of a crowning day for the Parnham family with the Zipaway / Buster, WA Guineas / Railway Stakes double on 25 November 2023, however, for both of those gallopers there has been nothing much to write home about since. In that year Buster ran fourth to Dom To Shoot and Zaaki in the Northerly and then fourth to Munhamek and Ripcord in the Gold Rush seven days later and ended the prep a m111. Since that point he has had 11 runs and finished in the money at only one of them (2024 Lee Steere). He’s seemingly struggling at the minute and isn’t the same horse we saw two years ago. Could get right out in betting.

10. Let’s Galahvant (54kg)

Trainer: Daniel & Ben Pearce
Jockey: Ms Tash Faithfull
Barrier: 16

Is a great story for the stable, the connections and the hoop, but it’s hard to see a world in which Let’s Galahvant wins a Railway Stakes. $10,000 yearling purchase who has continued to raise the bar over many a season, from a Westspeed Platinum to a 72+ to a Hannans Handicap to a WFA Strickland Stakes at Belmont Park and even in 2024 when he went around at 80-1 in the Railway and reeled off the second fastest L600 to rattle home into fifth beaten under 1.5L at Group One level behind Port Lockroy, Comfort Me and Super Smink. He’s a ripper, there’s no doubt, but this would be a major upset.

11. Sentimental Hero (54kg)

Trainer: Peter Fernie
Jockey: Craig Newitt
Barrier: 11

Ended his Peters Investments career on 31 August 2024 in a 72+ 1600 at Belmont Park as a m81 rater. Since then he has had 12 runs for new trainer Peter Fernie and his long time best mate and owner Andrew Inglis and has won an AJ Scahill Cup, a Boulder Cup and a Kalgoorlie Cup as well as running placings in a Hannans, Luckygray, ATA and Coolgardie Cup. He’s all of a sudden an 8 year old seemingly at the peak of his powers who gets a free swing at a Railway Stakes and Northerly Stakes before a Van Heemst and a second tilt at the Perth Cup on New Years Day. M81 to m105 – Peter Fernie is a genius. 7 weeks between runs, 2300 back to 1600m, Listed company to Group One company – genius, not miracle worker.

12. Watch Me Rock (54kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 4

Just profiles like the winner of the 2025 Railway Stakes. Since Grant & Alana Williams applied the blinkers to him on 19 October 2024 he has won seven races in nine outings (technically one was visors…) and has progressed from 66+ company to equal favourite in a Group One. He should have won the Eurythmic first-up, he did win the Asian Beau second-up and of the local winners of the Railway over the last 12 years, five have come through the Asian Beau: Trix Of The Trade, Western Empire, Inspirational Girl, Regal Power and Galaxy Star. William Pike electing to ride him over Western Empire was Step One, drawing a barrier was Step Two. Tick, Tick.

13. Admiration Express (53.5kg)

Trainer: Jason Miller
Jockey: Ms Lucy Fiore
Barrier: 8

Went to the RJ Peters in 2024 to try and gain herself a Golden Ticket into the Railway and like stablemate Bonjoy this year came up short, so instead she went 21 days between runs into a Northerly Stakes and nearly won it at 150-1. She was only knocked off by Light Infantry Man and safely held the fast finishing Socks Nation to give herself an invaluable Group One placing against her name. She added a Group 3 Strickland Stakes in winter this year to a trophy cabinet that already contained a Champion Fillies, Ascot 1000 Guineas and a Coolgardie Cup but unfortunately her two return runs have been well below what’s required to win a Railway Stakes. Another big roughie.

14. Depth Of Character (53.5kg)

Trainer: Annabel & Rob Archibald 
Jockey: Reece Jones
Barrier: 20

Has a similar profile to last year’s winner in Port Lockroy. In 2024 Port Lockroy headed to WA fourth-up into the preparation, 21 days between runs coming out of a Golden Eagle when beaten 2.1L at 100-1 behind Lake Forest. He got in on the 53kg minimum and took out the Railway Stakes. In 2025 Depth of Character heads to WA fifth-up in the preparation, 21 days between runs coming out of the Golden Eagle when finishing fourth beaten 2.5L by Autumn Glow. “Autumn Glow could be the next Winx” – Racetrack Ralphy, at the KBRC Sportsman’s Lunch over the Traditional Annual Race Round. She’s 8 out of 8 undefeated and the form around her must be very respected. Barrier draw a bitter blow.

15. Ginger Baker (53.5kg)

Trainer: Daniel & Ben Pearce
Trainer: Joey Azzopardi 
Barrier: 18

Gives 110% every time he goes to the track, but like stablemate Let’s Galahvant, just doesn’t have the class to be winning a Railway. He has had 2x 7 week freshens across a 10 start preparation that dates back to the Joey on Quokka Day in April 2025. He has won a Listed SW Cup (Heavy9 2200m) and a Coolgardie Cup, they’re simply not races that line-up into a Group One as form references and he was found out in the Lee Steere when beaten 3L at 60-1. Don’t think the drop to 53.5kg is enough for him. 100-1+.

16. Storyville (53kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: Fred Kersley
Barrier: 13

Won the Champion Fillies / WA Guineas double in 2024 and then was sent onwards to the Northerly Stakes when clearly over the hill and unable to take advantage of the postage stamp 50kg weight under the WFA conditions on the day. As Grant Williams (and many others) have said recently, to win the Northerly with the programming the fillies probably need to pick either the Champion Fillies or the WA Guineas, not both, and it clearly took her a while to get back into the groove of racing. Her RJ Peters win was strong and she’s the sole runner on the 53kg limit which according to history makes her a live chance. Best way to ride her is to sit back, ride for luck and hope the splits appear.

SELECTION: WATCH ME ROCK

Happy to side up with Watch Me Rock as Grant & Alana Williams attempt to win their sixth Railway Stakes, William Pike his fifth and add his name to the ever-growing list of horses who carry 54kg or less. Since El Presidente won with 55.5kg in 2007 for Troy Turner and Bruce Watkins there have only been two horses who carried more than 53.5kg and they were Sniper’s Bullet (2009) and Luckygray (2013). The last 11 winners have been either 53 or 53.5kg and with only one horse on the minimum (Storyville) and of those 5 of the 11 have come through the Asian Beau.

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