Kingston Town Classic Tips & Preview - Western Empire to do the Perth Group 1 double

Alex Marsh

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Last updated: 02 Dec 2021

Alex Marsh 02 Dec 2021

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The Group One Kingston Town Classic is Western Australia's premier weight-for-age contest
This feature is run over 1800m at the Ascot Racecourse on December 4
Can Western Empire complete the Railway Stakes/Kingston Town double?

Expired

Old Comrade won the Railway/Kingston Town double for Bob Peters in 2001. Will Western Empire achieve this feat 20 years later? (Getty)

The Kingston Town Classic is run over 1800m at Ascot and is the last Group One of the Perth Summer Racing Carnival.

Run under weight-for-age conditions, this feature has held Group One status since 1979 and was renamed in 2007 after the champion 1982 winner, Kingston Town.

At $1.40 with betstar, Western Empire is short-priced favourite for the 2021 Kingston Town Classic.

Kingston Town Classic 2021 Tips

2021 Kingston Town Classic Best Bet - Western Empire

If you were on the hot favourite in the Railway Stakes, at no stage was your wager in any trouble, with this rising star of the west cruising in for a near four-length demolition job over the mile, where he was only second-up.

While it's a potentially a trickier map, Western Empire is a galloper with tactical versatility, allowing 'The Wizard' to place the four-year-old wherever he pleases, so it's doubtful that any track pattern will beat him.

Only four runners have completed the Railway Stakes – Kingston Town Classic winning double, so history and now a clash with proven WFA stable mate in Regal Power are the two knocks, if you're looking hard enough to beat him.

The Pike, Peters & Williams trio are aiming for a clean sweep of the Perth Group One's this year and combining with the short-priced favourite, they're clearly in the box-seat to get the unique hat-trick before this gelding heads east.

Western Empire - $1.40Kingston Town Classic Best Betbet now

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2021 Kingston Town Classic Next Best Bet - Regal Power

We did see the less fancied Peters runner in Truly Great upset last year's Railway winner Inspirational Girl in the 2020 edition, and while Truly Great was very handy in his own right, he didn't have the talent or resume of Regal Power.

The obvious reply to that is that Western Empire is on another level to Inspirational Girl, but barring Arcadia Queen, this son of Pierro is right up there with the best to have donned the cerise and white in recent years.

Regal Power should've won an Australian Cup early in 2020, but he made amends seven days later when taking out the All-Star Mile at Caulfield, beating a host of genuine Group One rivals in the process.

Western Empire aside and ignoring the Lee Steere form as it has been ordinary, especially stacked-up against the fav, the lead-up to the Kingston Town Classic as a third-up target via two runs and a trial, has been faultless.

Regal Power - $5.00Kingston Town Classic Next Best Betbet now

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2021 Kingston Town Classic Value Bet - Notorious One

In the Asian Beau Stakes, this six-year-old produced the run of the race outside of the winner and in the Railway Stakes, he's again recorded the best performance behind Western Empire, which his closing splits back up.

Notorious One is a highly talented, but quirky six-year-old that's still lightly raced and has been one of the winners from the barrier draw, as they have options, yet aren't forced to search for inside runs after settling back from gate six.

The biggest factor here is Clint Johnston-Porter taking the ride, with Notorious One finally finding a jockey he gelled with over the winter, with this combo unbeaten from their first three appearances (should've been four).

Is that enough alone to turn around a big margin on the fave? No, but he can run out a stronger 1800m than Kissonforcheeks and in better form/having more upside than most of the others, he's a big top three hope.

Notorious One - $19.00Kingston Town Classic Value Betbet now

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Kingston Town Classic FAQ

What date is the 2021 Kingston Town Classic?

The 2021 Kingston Town Classic is scheduled to run on Saturday, December 4.

How can I live stream the 2021 Kingston Town Classic?

Visit our live streaming hub for all the information on how to live stream the Kingston Town Classic and all other Australian horse races.

What distance is the Kingston Town Classic?

The Kingston Town Classic is run over a distance of 1800 metres.

Where is the Kingston Town Classic held?

The Kingston Town Classic is held at the Ascot Racecourse in Perth.

What's the Kingston Town Classic worth?

The Kingston Town Classic is worth $1 million dollars.

$580,000 goes to the winner.

Who won the 2020 Kingston Town Classic?

Truly Great won the 2020 Kingston Town Classic.

Verdict

Kingston Town Classic Preview

Western Empire is the obvious on top selection for the 2021 Kingston Town Classic following his dominant performance in the Railway Stakes, with Regal Power seemingly the only logical threat.

On a place line at $3.10+, Notorious One is appealing as the bet in Saturday's feature.