Runner-by-runner info, form & tips for the Group 1 Railway Stakes
THE Group 1 $1 million Railway Stakes is one of the premier races throughout the Perth carnival and it features one of the best up-and-coming horses in Australia.
The Grant Williams-trained Delicacy has already won race such as the W.A Oaks, Derby and the SA Derby, and it should be in for another top campaign as it prepares itself for a potential visit to Sydney next April.
The field of 15 runners will all be vying to etch their name alongside some of Australia’s best milers in Elite Belle, Luckygray, Mr Moet, Northerly and Better Loosen Up.
The 1600-metre race takes place this Saturday at 7:35 AEST and we’ve supplied a runner-by-runner guide to help find the big winner this weekend. First up is Western Australia’s much-loved Black Heart Bart.
2015 Perth Railway Stakes runner-by-runner guide
1. Black Heart Bart – $5
Trainer – Vaughn Sigley
Jockey – Glenn Smith
Form – 40×111
Barrier – 11
Black Heart Bart kicked off its new campaign in fine style with three consecutive wins. The five-year-old is a classy gelding which can compete with the best in Australia and it showed that earlier this year when it finished fourth in the Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville behind Flamberge.
It loves running at Ascot with six wins from 17 starts and we’re expecting another huge effort this Saturday. The punters have let it drift from $4.80 to $5, but the $2 for the place looks like a good multi-bet inclusion.
Projected finish – 2nd
2. Messene – $14
Trainer – Team Hawkes
Jockey – Damian Browne
Form – 538348
Barrier – 2
The Hawkes-trained Messene has been a punters worst nightmare this campaign with a string of inconsistent results, yet the runs were good enough to warrant attention its following start. The Victorian gelding has plenty of class when it’s right, as shown by a third in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes behind Royal Descent. It has won four from seven at this distance and the inside draw suits, but punters need to figure out whether or not it can be trusted.
It has drifted out to a very handy $14 in the market, but we would have needed to see more from it this campaign to suggest backing at those odds.
Projected finish – 9th
3. Delicacy – $4.20
Trainer – Grant Williams
Jockey – William Pike
Form – 1111×3
Barrier – 15
This four-year-old mare has more potential than any other horse in the field and it has already amassed a super impressive record. The daughter of Al Maher has already won big races such as the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks and Group 1 SA Derby, and this is another stepping stone for the talented four-year-old. It has now won 10 from 15 starts and it has finished out of the money on only one occasion.
It has drawn wide in barrier 15, but jockey William Pike is confident his mount with be good enough to overcome the wide draw and be too good for them. Punters agree and have backed it well into $4.20 – which looks a very good bet in this.
4. Fushsia Bandana – $26
Trainer – Darren McAuliffe
Jockey – Jarrad Noske
Form – 11×275
Barrier – 1
Five starts ago this talented mare won the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes by beating Respondent and that form should stack up nicely for this. The five-year-old then followed that up with another group win and it has since run into Black Heart Bart three consecutive times. It hasn’t been able to beat the Perth champion, but it gets all favours from the inside barrier and the light weight helps its chances.
It appears to be unwanted in the betting at $26, but it looms as a solid place chance and it could have flown under the radar for this.
Projected finish – 8th
5. Real Love – $5.50
Trainer – Adam Durrant
Jockey – Damien Oliver
Form – 1108×1
Barrier – 13
Real Love has been well respected in the market even though jockey William Pike decided on Delicacy over it, but just look at who they found to replace him. Damien Oliver takes over the riding duties aboard the five-year-old mare which won at group 3 level last start to kick off its new campaign.
It has now won six from 16 with five coming at this track and it showed its class by winning the Group 2 Perth Cup in January. It is unbeaten in two starts second up which bodes well for this and even though it has drawn wide in barrier 13, it will likely drop back and run home strongly. Looks a solid chance, but we were hoping for a little better price in the market.
Projected finish – 3rd
6. Wink And A Nod – $18
Trainer – Justin Warwick
Jockey – Luck Warwick
Form – 111424
Barrier – 10
Hasn’t been far behind Black Heart Bart in its last three runs, especially two back in the Group 3 Northerly when it finished second by a nose. The six-year-old has been very well backed in every run this campaign, but all of a sudden it has ballooned out to $18, which looks like good value. It has never been tested over the mile and that could pose some problems, but it could also be a positive.
We wouldn’t be dropping this runner at the weights and Luck Warwick is riding well above her age. This could be her best chance to snatch a big group win. $4.60 for the place at Sportsbet.com.au looks like a handy each way bet.
Projected finish – 4th
7. Balmont Girl – $26
Trainer – Paula Wagg
Jockey – Shaun O’Donnell
Form – 542×45
Barrier – 3
The five-year-old mare has only won five races from 27 starts and it hasn’t won for some time now, but it did some show some promise early on in its career and that must be respected. It does face a class rise in this, but when you’re finishing under three lengths behind the likes of Black Heart Bart and Real Love, that form can be turned around quickly.
It’s probably best to leave Balmont Girl out of calculations for this race, but don’t drop it completely over the summer months in Perth.
Projected finish – 10th
8. Bass Strait – $101
Trainer – Neville Parnham
Jockey – Steven Parnham
Form – 49×846
Barrier – 8
It’s hard to suggest anything positive about this six-year-old which hasn’t shown much form this year. The Parnham-trained gelding finished fourth behind Real Love two starts back and that is about all it has done recently.
Drops significantly in weight to 53kg, but that’s the only positive we can find. Prepared to risk at a big price.
Projected finish – 15th
9. Battle Hero – $26
Trainer – Grant Williams
Jockey – Chris Parnham
Form – 8×1122
Barrier – 6
Battle Hero deserves respect and it gives Grant Williams another great chance of winning. The son of Stratum comes into this race on the back of two solid placings and it won much easier rating 72 races prior to that. It has only missed a win or placing once from 10 starts and that consistency could get rewarded in this.
Chris Parnham takes over the riding from William Pike, but it could test a few of these and offer some value at big odds. Probably not a genuine winning chance, but worth a stab at $26 for a saver bet.
Projected finish – 7th
10. Good Project – $7
Trainer – Chris Waller
Jockey – Craig Williams
Form – x12312
Barrier – 12
If there’s any trainer that should be respected at this level, it’s Chris Waller. The champion trainer lines up Good Project which rises well up in grade after finishing second in rating 90 grade last start, but punters have backed it positively into $7 after opening at $7.50.
Whether or not that’s based on form or the trainer, we’re not sure, but it looks a horse on the rise and the last time it raced over the mile it won by 1.25 lengths. Dry track suits best and having Williams ride at 53kg helps, so include in your trifecta and first four bets.
Projected finish – 5th
11. Hazzabeel – $10
Trainer – Daniel Morton
Jockey – Damian Lane
Form – 115631
Barrier – 14
Last start winner Hazzabeel comes into this race having beaten Battle Hero by 1.5 lengths and that looks a good form guide for this. The well bred son of Zabeel will only get better over more ground and there has been solid support at $10 for this runner.
It was no match for the likes of Black Heart Bart and Real Love earlier this campaign, but it gets rewarded in the weights at 53kg which could bring it into contention. It hit the line well last start which suggests it’s going to be right for this and it looms as a first four chance.
Punters are keeping it safe and we think it could crack the top five in this race.
Projected finish – 6th
12. Mr Utopia – $34
Trainer – Steve Wolfe
Jockey – Shaun McGruddy
Form – 62×706
Barrier – 7
Mr Utopia ran on well behind Charmed Harmony at Sandown last Saturday and it should be discounted because the punters aren’t keen. It has won 10 from 29 starts and it has plenty of experience on this track with 10 starts for two wins and three placings.
Its best finish in Victoria this year was a second placing in the Listed Winter Championship behind Amovatio and that form would hold up in this. It should be fitter after three runs this campaign and the weight helps, but it looks outclassed here and will likely struggle.
Projected finish – 11th
13. My Sister Lil – $41
Trainer – Ross Price
Jockey – Peter Knuckey
Form – 011525
Barrier – 5
It would be easy to discount its chances, but it ran second behind Real Love two starts back and now there’s $36 difference between their prices. It did finish six lengths behind Hazzabeel last start which could be why the price has drifted out, but there are lesser-performed runners in this field.
The five-year-old is by Snitzel so it has pace and if it can run out the 1600 metres, it could be an upset chance. There are too many doubts at this stage, however, so leave it out of calculations and take notes for races later in the carnival.
Projected finish – 14th
14. Special Delivery – $34
Trainer – Adam Durrant
Jockey – Joseph Azzopardi
Form – x11311
Barrier – 4
Looks a talented up-and-comer which has won four from its last five starts, but nothing close to this level. It’s in a good stable and it could have a future in a year or two, but at the moment it looks outclassed and will likely find it tough to run in the first half of the field.
Projected finish – 13th
15. Tower Of Lonhro – $34
Trainer – Adam Durrant
Jockey – Peter Hall
Form – 133×73
Barrier – 9
Has won 13 from 36 which is a good strike rate and is should be fitter after having two starts this campaign. Another Durrant-trained runner with a solid chance and it has yet to finish worse than third in seven starts at this distance.
Not the worst in this field and the $34 is a good price.
Projected finish – 12th