Railway Stakes Tips - Will the local form hold up or can a big stable from the east prevail in the Railway?

A field of 16 plus four emergencies have accepted for the Railway Stakes and it is a couple of interstate gallopers that are vying for favouritism. They are the Ciaron Maher-trained Light Infantry Man as well as Bjorn Baker’s mare, Belclare. 

Zipaway and Super Smink are the highest of the local gallopers in the market and are near the double figure quote. 

Eight contenders come out of the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m), which was held at Ascot on November 9. Casino Seventeen benefitted from some magic by William Pike to take out that lead up, while Bustler, Magnificent Andy and Zipaway filled the first four. 

Zipaway was first up and is expected to be an improver. Casino Seventeen produced the fastest last 200m but is 3kg worse off at the weights over the likes of Zipaway. 

Light Infantry Man and Belclare are among six last start winners in the race. Belclare took out the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill last time, going 8.3 lengthsee faster than standard benchmark, which is the second best last start figure of any runner in the race, behind Port Lockroy, who was 6th in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at his most recent run. 

Light Infantry Man went 7.6 lengths faster than standard to take out the Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, which is slightly inferior to the figure that Casino Seventeen produced at Ascot. Socks Nation is the stablemate of Light Infantry Man and comes off a 3rd at Group 1 level behind the likes of Atishu and Amelia’s Jewel. 

Super Smick is another last start winner and claimed the Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) at Ascot at her most recent start, while Mojo Rhythm was a winner of the RJ Peters Stakes (1500m). 

Big field in action and I expect Belclare and Socks Nation to take up the running. The latter draws wide and will need to scoot across. Pace might be moderate, despite the size of the field. Belclare, Democracy Manifest and Zipaway are among those that draw double digits and will need to find cover, possibly in the three wide line. Light Infantry Man can tuck in just behind the speed from barrier 2 and gets the ride from James McDonald, while Magnificent Andy is another that draws low. 

It shapes as another wide-open Railway Stakes. The locals have an excellent record in this race and I am inclined to go with one that comes out of the Lee Steere Stakes. Magnificent Andy has snuck under the radar a bit in the betting and was very solid in the recent lead up when just bloused late by Casino Seventeen and Bustler, finishing a neck away in 3rd position. The Stephen Miller-trained galloper has an excellent win strike rate of 31% and is on slightly better terms over that pair at the weights. He was a winner at his only start over the 1600m, which was at a similar stage of his last preparation. A firmer since the barrier draw, he can save every inch of ground from the inside and is right in this. 

Socks Nation has already taken out a Group 1 race at a massive price ($101 SP) when saluting in the Queensland Oaks (2200m). She started as a $61 chance in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at her most recent start to finish 3rd and there is nothing wrong at all with the form behind Atishu. She draws wide for this assignment but might punch up in the early stages with the 53.5kg on her back as she has had success in the past when racing on the speed. The daughter of Sioux Nation set a personal best last time by going eight lengths faster than standard benchmark and looks to have come back in excellent order. From the stable that have a knack of winning anywhere, she is very tempting at the quote.