Railway Stakes Tips - Runner-by-Runner Guide for the Ascot Group 1
- Runner-by-Runner Guide to the Railway Stakes
- Who will take out the Ascot Group 1?
- Marocchino tops our selections
The Railway Stakes is run over 1600m under handicap conditions at Ascot racecourse in Perth. Who will take out the feature?
The Group 1 race was first run in 1887 and has been won by some great horses including Carbine (1894), Better Loosen Up (1989) and local champion Northerly (2000).
Plenty of quality locally trained horses, as well as those from the eastern states, have accepted for this year’s edition and our thoughts and top four selections can be found below.
1. Tuvalu (4)
The Lindsay Smith trained Tuvalu ventures west in the search for his second Group 1 win having won the Toorak Handicap in 2022.
He has been beaten a length or less in his last three starts in Melbourne including a narrow defeat behind Prowess in the Group 2 Crystal Mile four weeks ago.
The six-year-old gelding has missed a place just once in five Group 1 races and the 1600m is perfect for him.
One of the major players.
2. Marocchino (14)
Has a good record in Listed and Group 3 company and he won the Asian Beau Stakes two back here at Ascot beating Alsephina who is right in the money for this event.
He meets that horse better at the weights and we are being offered a far bigger price!
Struggled at weight-for-age last start when well beaten and the wide draw doesn’t help his chances.
3. Comfort Me (18)
Finished second in this race last year behind Trix Of The Trade at a similar price and has followed the exact same path during this campaign so far.
Has been placed in both start this prep and should be fit enough to give this a shake if he produces his best.
4. Dom To Shoot (12)
Was beaten less than a length when resuming in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes over 1400m and he has missed a place only twice from 10 starts over 1600m.
Made up plenty of ground late after an impeded run and although he has a tricky gate to manage, can run a place.
5. Roots (15)
Chris Waller sends his five-year-old mare Roots to Western Australia in an attempt to win her first Group 1 race.
The daughter of Press Statement has a habit of running on late with an eye-catching run without winning in recent times but she couldn’t have been much more impressive when winning at Group 2 level by 2.8 lengths last start.
Tommy Berry will need one of his best from barrier 15 but she is ready to peak and has real class.
6. Trix Of The Trade (1)
Winner of the race last year and is being asked to carry just 1kg more in 2023.
Has had two starts at this track and distance for two wins and has won 9 of 18 overall.
Will need to improve on his first couple of runs so far this prep but we now he’s capable.
7. Alsephina (7)
Put together six wins in a row during her last campaign culminating in a win at Group 3 level.
She is yet to win in two starts this prep but has not been beaten far and the step up in distance suits at this stage of her prep.
Willy Pike will steer from barrier seven.
8. Bustler (2)
Not a lot went right for this son of Playing God second up when he was held up and struck interference in the straight.
He is a very progressive type of gelding with a bit of upside and although he’ll need to take a big step forward, he’s right in this from the good draw.
9. Forgot You (19)
Earned a trip to Western Australia with a nice win at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival over 1800m.
He’s a horse that never seems far away in his races but has only four wins from 19 career starts.
I’m not sure he is a miler and barrier 19 does not help his chances.
10. Karli’s Karma (8)
Scored the sixth win of her 19-race career in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes here at Ascot last time out.
Was well supported in this race last year but finished 13th, beaten over six lengths.
Drawn well and the blinkers go on.
11. Last Of The Line (13)
Managed to place first up but was then beaten a long way at his next start when knocking up in the straight.
He’s a better horse than his last performance but still looks out of his depth in a race of this quality.
12. Massimo (17)
Solid in two starts so far this prep but has proven over a long career that he is not up to this level.
Wide barrier does not help his slim chances.
13. Mojo Rhythm (6)
Secured his first black type win last start, beating Alsephina in the process although he does meet that horse 5kg worse off at the weights here.
Despite that fact, he has drawn well and does look over the odds at his current price if he can replicate that last start performance.
14. Searchin’ Roc’s (5)
Ten of her 18 career starts have been in Listed or Group 3 company and she has won half of them.
On the flip side, she has had three attempts at Group 1 company and failed to place including an eighth in this race last year.
Should get a nice run in transit but prefer others.
15. Startrade (10)
Has finished well behind the winner in all three starts this prep although he had no luck in the Lee Steere Stakes last start.
Placed in this race last year and is going better than his form on paper suggests.
16. The Velvet Queen (16)
Finished in the top two in all but one of her seven starts during her last campaign.
Was a little underwhelming when first up at Group 2 level which makes me think she may have stepped up in grade too quickly.
Seems the right price.
Verdict
SELECTIONS
1st: No. 2 Marocchino
2nd: No. 1 Tuvalu
3rd: No. 5 Roots
4th: No. 11 Last Of The Line
1st: No. 2 Marocchino
2nd: No. 1 Tuvalu
3rd: No. 5 Roots
4th: No. 11 Last Of The Line
Marocchino
Each-Way
@16/1 - 1 Unit
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