Five years on from Great Shot’s win in the Furphy-Railway Stakes (1600m), trainer Rhys Radford is hoping to cause a similar upset in this year’s edition of the famous Ascot mile.
Rhys Radford has pinned his hopes on Comfort Me delivering him a second win in the Group 1 event, after the gelding was runner-up to Western Empire last year.
He also had Son Of Bacchus finish midfield in last year’s event.
Comfort Me heads into the $1.5 million event off the back of two sound efforts in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
Radford said he was confident Comfort Me primed to go one better on Saturday and was pleased with his first two runs.
“I’ve been happy enough with both of them,” Radford told TABradio.
“He probably just needed the run first-up.
“I think he’s going to appreciate the drop in weight and the step up to the mile.
“We do need a lot of luck tonight at the barrier draw.
“If he can draw single figures, with the right run he can be right in it.”
Comfort Me is rated a $17 chance with TABtouch, with Alaskan God the $4.20 favourite.
Radford is hopeful of aiming Comfort Me at the $1.5 million Gold Rush on December 10, provided he came through the Railway in good order.