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

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