The highlight of Saturday’s racing will be the running of the The Group 1 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Playing God ($5.50) will be looking to make it a hat-rick of victories in the race whilst Ranger ($9.00) will be looking to go one better than last year. Current favourite is Luckygray who put in a sensational trial for this last start is at $2.80.
Kingston Town Classic Form Guide
1. WALL STREET – S Arnold (13)
8yo from Michael Moroney’s Flemington stable who ran third first up off a nine week break in the Tab.com.au Stakes behind Fawkner and then produced another solid effort when a close up sixth (beaten 1.9 lengths) behind Happy Trails in the G1 Emirates Stakes. Competed in the Railway Stakes last start and from his wide gate (14) got a long way back and was caught wide before being tightened for room close to line to ultimately finish sixth, 2.6 lengths behind Mr. Moet. Going well and has strung three good runs together over the past month and meets them all better at the weights but again, has been dealt no favours with the gate.
Odss: $15.00
2. LUCKYGRAY – S O’Donnell (4)
A winner of eleven of his seventeen starts who finished fifth in this race last year as $2.80 favourite after having won the Railway Stakes. He resumed from a ten week let up with a comprehensive victory in the Waroa-Lee Stakes (1400m) over God Has Spoken before producing a big run from the tail of the field to run second a fortnight ago in the Railway Stakes. That effort has seen him installed $2.70 favourite and he’ll go close to making amends for last year.
Odss: $2.70
3. PLAYING GOD – S Parnham (7)
He finished well down the track when he ventured east to have a crack at the G1 Emirates Stakes on the final day of the carnival two starts back then, had every chance last start in the G1 Railway where he led them inside the final 100m before finishing fourth (beaten 1.3). He’s three from three at this track and distance and tackling this race at this stage of his preparation, looks ideal. He will not be without his fair share of admirers is solid in early markets at $6.00
Odss: $6.50
4. GOD HAS SPOKEN – B Parnham (3)
Two starts back, his second run into this preparation, he finished second to Luckgray in the Waroa-Lee Stakes (1400m) under WFA conditions and then from his good draw, sat handy to the speed and just had to wait a fraction too long for the run he was relying on, to open and finished fifth (beaten 1.4 lengths). Given that his last two wins have came at 2000m and 2100m, the nine furlongs of this race, fourth run into his prep, looks ideal. Drawn well and will be in the firing line for a long way.
Odss: $19.00
5. MR. MOET – D Staeck (1)
5yo from the Adam Durant stable who has won his last four outings, including the G1 Railway Stakes when first up off a twenty week spell – defeating Luckygray by ¾ of a length. Gem of a ride from Staeck assisted in the Railway but this is a horse that is improving every time he steps out on to the race track. Drawn to get a sweet run again and at $14.00, is definitely worth throwing in multiples.
Odss: $14.00
6. COLOUR CORRECT – P Harvey (15)
His last win was this time last year in the G2 C.B. Cox Stakes (2100m). His eight runs since have been a little indifferent with the best of them possibly his last start second to in the G3 Listed Carbine Club (1400m) behind Chester Road. Step up in distance will be of a benefit to him but not quite sure he is going well enough at the moment to handle the step up to WFA conditions.
Odss: $34.00
7. RANGER – W Pike (5)
He had three barrier trails in readiness for his return to racing after a thirty-seven week spell and produced an excellent effort to finish seventh (beaten 1.6 lengths) in the G1 Railway Stakes a fortnight back. He’d only be better for that hit-out and fancy connections, after having run second with this bloke in last year’s race, have had this targeted for some time. He doesn’t run too many bad ones and will get every chance from barrier five.
Odss: $9.50
8. SHAMARDASHING – P Carberry (14)
Patinack Farm representative who ran a close up sixth (beaten 1.4 lengths) behind Launay when first up two starts back in a Listed race at Flemington over 1400m. Made the trek west and a fortnight ago, ran eighth of ten (beaten 4.3) behind Chester Road in the Carbine Club Stakes. Rises 2kgs on his last start with the step up to WFA conditions and would have to improve considerably.
Odss: $81.00
9. CHESTER ROAD – P Hall (11)
Stable-mate to Mr. Moet who also posses a strong winning strike rate, having won nine of his eighteen starts. Earned his shot at this race after producing a dominant win first up in the Listed Carbine Club (1400m), winning by 2 ¼ lengths. Step up distance will pose little problem but a query over the step up in class and under WFA conditions.
Odss: $18.00
10. BELORA – J Noske (9)
Won the Listed Boulder Cup (1760m) four starts back but has struggled in three subsequent runs – all in Group company, since. Ran sixth (beaten 2 ¾ lengths) behind Maschino last start in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes. It’s hard to see him figuring in the finish on recent efforts.
Odss: $101.00
11. ZESTER – G Smith (16)
Well beaten two starts back in the Waroa-Lee Stakes behind Luckygray before a much improved effort (at 150/1) under the handicap conditions of the Railway Stakes when finishing sixth (beaten 1.6 lengths). Was an excellent effort last start but back to the WFA scale here doesn’t help and others preferred.
Odss: $101.00
12. LOPOV – (10)
Third and final runner for Adam Durant but easily the third pick of the trio. Well beaten when resuming finishing last of ten in the Carbine Club (1400m) and should he win, would blow most of the Quaddie.
Odss: $151.00
13. MASCHINO – K Yuill (17)
Well bred Encosta De Lago from the Graham Yuill yard who has been in solid form of late. He won the RJ Peters Stakes (G3) two starts back and backed that up a 2 ¼ length ninth to Mr Moet in the Railways Stakes last start. Meets Luckygray some 5kgs worse at the weights.
Odss: $61.00
14. ROSIE ROCKET – S Meeres (8)
Hasn’t had much luck of late when it comes to barrier draws having drawn 10 of 11 when second (beaten a head) to Pop Culture in the Ascot Gold Cup and 12 of 16 when third (beaten 1.1 lengths) to Mr. Moet in the Railway Stakes. Despite being caught wide and facing the breeze throughout last start, she still hit the line as well as anything else. Going well and has already been well supported with Sportsbet, firming from $13 into $9.50
Odss: $9.50
15. POP CULTURE – T Turner (6)
4yo mare who won the WA Oaks last season before finishing three lengths behind Rohan in the WA Derby. She won two of her four starts this time in including last start when narrowly winning the Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) almost a month ago. Would’ve liked to have seen her have one more run under her belt coming into this competitive race.
Odss: $17.00
16. FUDDLE DEE DUDDLE – G Boss (2)
3yo filly who under the conditions of this race, gets in with 50kgs and will be ridden by Glen Boss and was scratched from last week’s Listed Placid Ark Stakes against her own age for a crack at this. As she has demonstrated at her last two starts, she is capable of producing big finishes and rattled home to finish fourth (beaten 1.5 lengths) in the WA Guineas at her most recent start. With the advantage of a featherweight, she’s come right into calculations.
Odss: $13.00
17. REBELSON – J Whiting (12)
3yo gelding by Snippetson who, whilst is on the improve, is taking on a big task here. Ran sixth last start in the G2 WA Guineas where he just held his ground in the run to the line. He would have to find some lengths to figure in the finish here.
Odss: $18.00
SUMMARY
As was the case with the Railway Stakes, this will be a great race with a number of legitimate chances. Hard not to be impressed with Luckygray’s last start and but I’m not convinced draw close to the fence will be ideal for this bloke and therefore, couldn’t take the $2.70 Sticking with the Railway Stakes, I can’t see why those that finished with Luckygray, won’t be competitive again. Playing God ($6), God Has Spoken ($19) and Rosie’s Rocket ($9.50) have all draw well, were all good last start and each represent good value for mine and were I’ll be playing.