History Says Stay With Locals In Railway

Thursday, 18 November 2010 22:54

Punters doing the form for this Saturday’s $1million Group One Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot are advised to stick with the locally-trained gallopers.

In the last ten years, only two horses trained on the eastern seaboard have won the Railway Stakes. They were the Mick Price-trained Slavonic (1999) and Sniper’s Bullet (2009).

This year no less than five interstate runners will contest the Railway Stakes – Black Piranha, Sniper’s Bullet, Triple Honour, Trusting and Gathering.

In fact before Sniper’s Bullet won the Railway last year, you’d have to go back to 1994 when Zaparri won the Railway to see a winner have their final lead-up run not in either the Peters Stakes or Lee Steere Stakes.

The exception to that was Slavonic however he contested the Lee Steere Stakes before contesting the Group 1 Fruit ‘N’ Veg (1800m) at his final lead-up run, which is now held after Railway.

Consequently winners of the both the Peters Stakes and Lee Steere Stakes have a sound record in the Railway in the past 20 years – Peters Stakes have had 19 starters for three wins and two placings while the Lee Steere Stakes boasts 17 starters for 5 wins and three placings.

Also worth consideration is the fact Sniper’s Bullet carried 56.5kg to victory last year. No horse in the past 40 years has carried a heavier weight and won the Railway.

Therefore punters must be wary before leaping into either Black Piranha, Sniper’s Bullet or Triple Honour.

Previous Winners Of Railway Stakes

Ascot (Saturday)

Race 7 @ 3:45pm (Local Time) - $1m Group 1 Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m)

Picture: Greg Irvine

Famous Roman Cleared To Race In Railway Stakes

Friday, 12 November 2010 10:53

RWWA Stewards today re-considered the ban placed on Famous Roman on 8 November 2010 pursuant to ARR.53A (1) which states:

An attack of bleeding shall be the appearance of blood at both nostrils, irrespective of quantity, unless in the opinion of the Stewards such bleeding was caused by external trauma.

The Stewards considered fresh evidence presented by the connections of Famous Roman, that evidence being results of a Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) carried out on the horse on Thursday 11 November 2010 by veterinarians.

A BAL involves the washing out of cellular material from a horse's lungs to examine for signs of Exercised Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH). The results of this test revealed no evidence of any recent or prior haemorrhage.

In light of this fresh evidence, the Stewards directed that Famous Roman attend the Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital today, 12 November 2010 and undergo a complete examination in order to determine the origin of the nasal bleeding.

This examination included an endoscopy and x-rays of the head and sino-nasal region of Famous Roman.

The x-rays revealed no abnormalities. The endoscopy of the left nasal cavity revealed evidence of mucosal abrasions with associated inflammation.

Examination of the right nasal cavity revealed an area of abrasions similar to those in the left nasal cavity. All other areas of the airways were found to be within normal limits.

The report further noted that the nasal mucosa appeared to be particularly fragile and bled easily and concluded it would seem plausible under these circumstances that the blood could have originated from the nasal mucosa during exercise.

Dr Judith Medd, RWWA Veterinarian, advised the Stewards that in light of the results of the BAL and further testing conducted at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital it was not possible to conclusively determine the origin of the nasal bleeding experienced by Famous Roman on Saturday, 6 November 2010 and that scientific testing had revealed a degree of probability that the bleeding may not have originated from the horse’s lungs.

Under these circumstances, Stewards could not rule out that the bleeding was caused by external trauma and as such lifted the ban on Famous Roman immediately.

Colour Correct Railway Favourite

Tuesday, 16 November 2010 06:15

Local galloper Colour Correct has maintained his position at the head of betting for Saturday's Group One Railway Stakes in Perth following Tuesday's barrier draw.

Colour Correct firmed from $4.60 to $4.40 with TAB Sportsbet after he came up with barrier seven for the $1 million 1600m feature at Ascot.

The Ross Price-trained gelding won the Group Three Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) and Listed Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) at his past two starts and was third in last year's Railway.

There are five eastern states raiders in the field of 16 plus two emergencies, with the John Thompson-trained duo of Trusting (barrier five) and Gathering (six) faring best at the draw.

Last year's winner Sniper's Bullet is back to defend his crown and has drawn wide in gate 15 with last year's winning rider Nash Rawiller in the saddle again.

Sniper's Bullet will come in to 14 if first reserve Clueless Angel doesn't gain a start and although it seemingly dents his chances, the Tracey Bartley-trained gelding did begin from wide barriers (12 and 16) when claiming the Railway-Kingston Town Stakes Group One double last year.

He is out to $8 from $7.50 after the draw while Trusting has tightened from $7.50 to $6.50 and is on the second line of betting.

RJ Peters Stakes winner God Has Spoken (barrier nine) is at $9 ahead of 2008 Doncaster winner Triple Honour (11) and dual Stradbroke winner Black Piranha (12) who are both at $10 along with Famous Roman (two).

Betting Opens On Railway Stakes

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 06:30

Betting on Australia's next Group One race has opened as five horses at the top of market left for Perth on Wednesday.

On board a charter flight out of Melbourne were high-profile eastern states gallopers Black Piranha, Triple Honour, Trusting, Sniper's Bullet and Gathering - all rated leading chances in the Railway Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week.

The quintet, along with boom local Colour Correct, head TAB Sportsbet's first market on the $1 million feature.

Colour Correct shares favouritism with last year's winner Sniper's Bullet at $6, just ahead of Trusting ($6.50) and Triple Honour ($8).

Black Piranha, to be ridden by Daniel Ganderton in his Perth campaign, is at $8 while Gathering is rated a $12 chance.

When Railway handicaps were released on Tuesday, Black Piranha was given 58.5kg topweight, 0.5kg more than Sniper's Bullet and Triple Honour.

Trusting has been given 55.5kg while Patinack Farm stablemate Gathering is on the limit weight with 52kg.

Patinack racing manager Robyn Hartney said James Winks, who rode Trusting in the Emirates Stakes last Saturday, would follow the stallion to Perth.

"We haven't finalised a jockey yet for Gathering," she said.

Hour Of Peril, who has been one of the recent stars of the Patinack Brisbane operation, was also on the flight.

The three-year-old was flown from Brisbane to Melbourne on Monday to connect with the Perth Racing-sponsored charter flight.

"He never turned a hair on the Brisbane to Melbourne flight," Hartney said.

Providing he also comes through the Melbourne to Perth leg without a hitch, Hour Of Peril will be first eastern states runner at this year's summer carnival when he lines up in the $250,000 WA Guineas at Ascot on Saturday.

Leading Perth jockey William Pike has been booked for the Guineas mount.

Cup-winning Mosse To Ride In Perth

Tuesday, 16 November 2010 06:15

Melbourne Cup-winning rider Gerald Mosse will be among the stars contesting an international jockeys' series in Perth on Saturday week.

Mosse rode Americain to a famous victory at Flemington earlier this month and will be joined by another Hong Kong-based Frenchman, Olivier Douleuze, in the Kailis International Jockey Series at Ascot.

A former retained jockey for the Aga Khan, Mosse was propelled onto the world stage in 1990 with his victory on Saumarez in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The jockeys' series will be part of the meeting featuring the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Singapore-based Robbie Fradd, who rode the winner of the Darwin Cup in August, is among the jockeys confirmed to ride.

The others are Irishman John Egan, Michael Walker, Jose Verenzuela, Nash and Brad Rawiller, Damien Oliver, Nicholas Hall, Paul Harvey and William Pike.

Egan tuned up by riding two winners at the barrier trials at Belmont Park on Monday, two days after riding in Bahrain.

He rode with success in Western Australia on a previous visit in 2004 but his most recent trip in 2008 resulted in controversy when he was fined $8000 for calling Victorian stewards "tin-pot Hitlers" in a television interview.

Egan was upset at continued veterinary examinations of his Melbourne Cup mount Yellowstone who was subsequently scratched on the eve of the race.

Picture: Sportpix

Railway Stakes: Elimination Order

Tuesday, 09 November 2010 00:51

Below is the current order of entry for the $1 million Group One Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 20.

Railway Stakes contenders Sniper’s Bullet, Black Piranha, Triple Honour, Gathering and Trusting are expected to arrive in Western Australia tomorrow.

All Silent (second) is not expected to contest the Railway Stakes while Famous Roman (eighth) bled following his win in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).

Ascot (November 20)

$1m Group 1 Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) - Elimination Order

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Railway Stakes: Final Field & Barriers

Tuesday, 16 November 2010 03:55

Black Piranha heads the list of runners for this Saturday's $1 million Group One Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.

The Con Karakatsanis-trained galloper has drawn barrier 12 and will carry 58.5kg.

The dual Stradbroke Handicap winner is joined by other eastern states runners Sniper's Bullet (barrier 15), Triple Honour (barrier 11) and the Patinack Farm pair of Trusting (barrier five) and Gathering (barrier six).

Of the locals, Megatic will start from barrier ten while Famous Roman will begin from barrier two.

Famous Roman was reinstated into the field last Friday after RWWA stewards could not rule out that his bleeding attack following the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes on November 6 was caused by external trauma and as such lifted the three month ban imposed.

Below is the final field and barriers for the Railway Stakes.

Ascot (Saturday)

$1m Group 1 Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m)

Picture: Ross Stevenson

Famous Roman To Miss WA Carnival

Tuesday, 09 November 2010 00:23

Leading Western Australian galloper Famous Roman will play no further part in this year’s Perth Festival Of Racing after Racing Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards yesterday found the galloper to have suffered a bleeding attack on Saturday.

Famous Roman won the $202,000 Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday but stewards noted blood from both nostrils following the race.

Trainer Jason Taylor said this may have occurred as the six-year-old struck his head on a bar in the roof of his horse truck on the way to the races.

But an endoscopic report yesterday confirmed “a mild to moderate amount” amount of blood present in both nostrils without any evidence of external trauma.

As it is the first time Famous Roman has bled, he will now incur the mandatory three month ban from racing.

By Danetime out of Marooned mare Famous Friend, Famous Roman has raced 34 times for seven victories and seven placings with prizemoney in excess of $500,000.

He was eighth in the elimination order for this month’s $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).

God Has Spoken Confirms Railway Claims

Sunday, 14 November 2010 06:15

God Has Spoken confirmed his standing as one of Perth's best chances in the Railway Stakes with a heart-stopping Peters Stakes win on Saturday.

One of four winners at the meeting for leading trainer Neville Parnham, God Has Spoken held-off the fast-finishing Ranger to cement his claims for this Saturday's Group One.

"I think he will be ideally suited in the Railway, with the way the race is generally run," Parnham said.

God Has Spoken has been promoted to the fifth line of betting at $8 for the $1 million Railway Stakes.

Parnham domination of the Ascot meeting was completed when God Has Spoken's younger brother Playing God took out the WA Guineas.

Both horses were ridden by Parnham's son Steven.

In latest Railway betting, Perth star Colour Correct remained the $5 favourite ahead of three eastern states visitors - Sniper's Bullet ($6), Trusting ($7) and Triple Honour ($7.50).

Ranger, who is just out of maiden class, is into $12 to complete a meteoric rise in the Railway.

In other Railway Stakes news, a bleeding ban on Famous Roman has been lifted and he is expected to take his place in the field.

Famous Roman returned to scale with blood in his nostrils after winning the Lee Steere Stakes at Ascot on November 6.

But stewards, acting on evidence presented by connections, ordered a series of tests on the crack galloper.

A Murdoch University report said it was inconclusive about the origin of the bleeding attack.

"Under these circumstances, stewards could not rule out that the bleeding was caused by external trauma and as such lifted the ban," chairman of stewards John Zucal said.

Famous Roman is under the care of Jim Taylor, the West Australian trainer who prepared Hay List to win eight of his first nine starts before the sprinter's transfer east.

With Famous Roman Roman cleared to run in the Railway, TAB Sportsbet has the entire sharing the sixth line of betting at $8.50.

Craig Williams, meanwhile, has been confirmed as the Railway Stakes rider for Gathering.

Gathering will one of two runners for Patinack Farm with Trusting to be ridden by James Winks.

Sniper's Bullet Set For Perth Return

Monday, 08 November 2010 06:45

An unspectacular but proven formline - and a familiar face - will accompany Sniper's Bullet to a third Perth carnival appearance.

Sniper's Bullet is one of three Sydney gallopers confirmed on a Western Australia charter flight on Tuesday for what is becoming an annual summer pilgrimage for the sprinting warrior.

Going along for the ride with the three-time Group One winner will be Tracey Bartley.

Bartley is back in charge of the galloper on the back of an unplaced Emirates Stakes run which the trainer says did no harm to his WA chances.

Sniper's Bullet was ridden on-pace before finishing three lengths from the winner Wall Street when eighth in Saturday's Emirates.

The result was almost a replica of his previous two Emirates finishes ahead of Perth trips in 2008 and 2009, convincing Bartley Sniper's Bullet is in terrific shape despite his advancing years.

"There was nothing wrong with his run in the Emirates on Saturday ... he's on track for Perth," Bartley said.

"He wanted to take charge of (jockey) Nash (Rawiller) for a while but he still gave a decent kick when they straightened."

Bartley resumes training duties after Sniper's Bullet was prepared by Robert Smerdon for three recent Victorian starts.

Under Bartley's care, Sniper's Bullet has claimed three Group One victories including last year's Railway Stakes and Kingston Town Stakes in Perth.

"The only reason Robert had him in Melbourne was because I couldn't afford to be away for a long period of time," Bartley, a central west NSW trainer, said.

"That said, I think the horse responded well to the change. It's kept him mentally switched on.

"I think going over to Perth does the same thing. It's a change of scenery, which, as his form over there shows, he really thrives in."

A Stradbroke Handicap winner as a three-year-old, Sniper's Bullet has raced consistently against Australia's best sprinter-milers in a 43-start career which has produced eight wins for more than $2.5 million in stakes.

The seven-year-old will be trying to swell those earnings by almost $1 million when he runs in the Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday week and the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 4.

Rawiller, who won the Railway Stakes on Sniper's Bullet last year, has first call on the mount.

"I'd love to have Nash go across and ride him again and I've already contacted his manager," Bartley said.

Sniper's Bullet will be joined on the Perth flight by the 2008 Doncaster Mile winner Triple Honour and another Sydney star, Black Piranha.