The Perth Summer Racing Carnival shifts into gear this Saturday with the running of the Group 1 Railway Stakes over the mile at Ascot.
Trainers Grant and Alana Williams are hoping to win the race for a fourth consecutive year with short-priced favourite Western Empire, while last week’s RJ Peters Stakes winner Kissonallforcheeks is hoping to spoil the party.
Will we see another favourite dominate like Inspirational Girl last year? Or is a Railway upset on the cards?
Find our thoughts in our 2021 Railway Stakes Preview here!
Valour Road
Valour Road is unplaced in four starts at Group 1 level but does look capable of running a place based on recent form.
Simon Miller’s six-year-old finished a length third to Dance Music second-up in the Northerly Stakes and wasn’t far off Massimo two weeks ago in the Lee Steere.
He won over the mile fourth-up at Belmont back in May and rates as a decent each-way chance if Brad Rawiller can offset the awkward gate.
Massimo
Massimo has gone to another level since joining the Chris and Michael Gangemi stable.
The son of Sessions resumed a narrow runner-up at Belmont over 1200m and was equally impressive behind Dance Music in the Northerly Stakes over further.
He was duly rewarded with a win a fortnight ago in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes where he made every post a winner from the front – a ride Clinton Johnston-Porter will look to replicate on Saturday.
Proven over the mile and recent form is hard to fault.
The Velvet King
The Velvet King is back for another crack at the Railway after running sixth two years ago to Regal Power.
The son of Universal Ruler won the Belmont Sprint in his first race under trainer Darren McAuliffe, and was strong to the line first-up when fifth in the Lee Steere Stakes a fortnight ago.
He’s failed to find the money in two starts over the mile at Ascot, but his second-up form reads well enough for place considerations.
Dance Music
Dance Music looks ready for the mile in her third run back.
She was a narrow winner over Massimo first-up in the Northerly Stakes before the tables were turned last time out in the Lee Steere over 1400m.
Simon Miller’s mare has won twice from four starts over the trip and is also an impressive eight-time winner on her home track.
The wide gate is against her, but she might be over the odds at the current $21 quote.
Too Close the Sun
Too Close the Sun has unfinished business in the Railway after running a clear second to Inspirational Girl last year.
He went on to run well in the Kingston Town two weeks later to wrap up his prep, but failed to find that same form in Melbourne during the autumn.
Should take improvement away from his first-up run in the Lee Steere Stakes, but likely warrants consideration over further.
Comfort Me
Comfort Me steps out in search of his hat-trick after winning back-to-back starts at Ascot by a combined three lengths.
This is a big step up for the son of Playing God, but he could run a cheeky race with a win to his name over the mile.
Dig Deep
Dig Deep hasn’t won a race in over a year and looks a little out of his depth in a race of this quality.
The Deep Field gelding was game to the line first-up in a Listed race at Kalgoorlie before running on late for fifth in the Northam Cup three weeks ago.
This only looks tougher.
Kaptain Kaos
Kaptain Kaos returns on the quick backup following last week’s effort for fourth in the RJ Peters Stakes behind Kissonallforcheeks.
The Michael Grantham-trained four-year-old won the Northam Cup two runs back – his seventh win since joining the Grantham stable.
He’s clearly looking for the step back up to the mile based on last week’s effort, and there’s no doubt he’ll be fighting out the finish if apprentice Lucy Warwick can take him back early.
Kay Cee
Kay Cee won the Group 1 Kingston Town Cup two years ago but has struggled to produce that same form more recently at the top level.
The Neville Parnham-trained mare found herself too far back last time out in the Lee Steere Stakes, battling on only fairly to finish seventh.
She needs to improve on that effort and likely won’t find this any easier.
Kissonallforcheeks
Kissonallforcheeks punched her ticket to the Railway Stakes with a win as the short-priced favourite in last week’s R.J. Peters Stakes.
The Written Tycoon mare finished a clear sixth to Western Empire the start prior in the Asian Beau, but based on the way she let down last week, the mile looks ideal for her at this stage of her prep.
She’s rock-hard fit for four runs back and has only missed the placings three times from 13 starts at Ascot.
She’s drawn to get the gun run for the second week in a row along the rail and can go on with it now.
Naughty By Nature
Naughty By Nature is a two-time winner over the mile and has also never missed a place in three starts over the track and distance.
The daughter of Trade Fair found the line fairly for fifth last time out in the Asian Beau Stakes and should appreciate the rise in trip now.
She’ll likely roll forward under Jordan Turner and looks capable of running a place with some fitness on her side.
Notorious One
Notorious One has been up for a while, but his recent form does read well ahead of his first start at Group 1 level.
The Gangemi-trained six-year-old finished a clear runner-up to Western Empire last time out in the Asian Beau where he was seen charging home late.
This is tougher, but he has to be respected with a pair of wins over the mile.
Platoon
Platoon is winless in seven attempts over the mile and has failed to return a place in his last five starts.
He did run third in this same race two years ago behind Regal Power but looks tested based on recent form.
Son of Bacchus
Son of Bacchus returns on the quick backup following last week’s brave runner-up to Kissonallforcheeks in the RJ Peters Stakes.
The gelding by Playing God has found the money in each of his last three starts and should be plenty fit for four runs back.
He’s proven over the trip with two wins and three placings on the board, and although this is a big step up in class, he should be fighting out the finish after drawing kindly in barrier 8.
Tellem We’re Comin
Tellem We’re Comin is a proven performer over this trip with four wins from seven starts on the board.
He ran a clear third to Kaptain Kaos in the Northam Cup two starts back over the mile, and was far from disgraced last time out in the Lee Steere.
Gets in with some weight off his back and can measure up.
Western Empire
Western Empire extended his unbeaten streak to five with a comfortable first-up win in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained Kiwi import has missed the money only once from nine career starts, while he was also a clear five-length winner over the Ascot mile back in February.
This is his toughest assignment to date, but the class of William Pike on board makes him the horse to beat, especially after drawing barrier 3.
Media Baron
Media Baron has failed to return a place since resuming back in August.
He’s struggled in much easier races than this recently and will need to earn his spot in the field as the first emergency.
