The $1million Group 1 Railway Stakes is Perth’s richest race and is the highlight of Saturday’s card at Ascot.
The bookmakers make the front-running The Cleaner favourite for Mick Burles as he bids for his first taste of Group 1 success. Steven Arnold has the task of sending him out in front from barrier eight and he certainly has a chance on his fine third in the Emirates Stakes.
His main market rival is the Grant Williams-trained Respondent who has drawn barrier while stable companion Elite Belle is drawn wide in sixteen. The latter finished fourth in the Lee Steere Stakes which has proved a valuable guide to this race in the past. She is one of six runners coming on from that race and must reverse the form with runner-up Fuchsia Bandana and third placed Platinum Rocker. They are drawn in barriers 11 and 9 respectively so it could be close between them once again.
The one that caught my eye in the Lee Steere was fifth-placed Ihtsahym. He was a smart three-year-old, winning the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic and the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes. His form this spring has not been anything special but he has been racing over shorter distances and was not beaten far last time. He goes back up to a mile here and could be the each-way value of the race.
I just favour Elite Belle to come out best of the rest. Four of the last ten winners of the Railway Stakes ran in the Lee Steere Stakes on their previous start and Elite Belle is yet to be beaten over a mile. There has been plenty of interest in 2012 winner Mr Moet who comes here without a prep race. Jockey Paul Harvey has won it three times in the past while Mr Moet has a fine record at Ascot.
Local trainer Adam Durrant believes that he is as fit as he can get him for this race. Alma’s Fury looks to have been dealt a rough hand in barrier 18 following a good run behind Hucklebuck in the Yellowglen Stakes. If The Cleaner goes out quickly, the field may be stretched and that will suit those with stamina. I’m hoping that Ihtsahymn can bounce back to form but will also have an interest in Elite Belle.
Elite Belle @7.00 Sportsbet
Ihtsahymn @17.0 Bet365
Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4
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