Railway Stakes 2014 Field, Tips, Odds and Results

The Railway Stakes has been a blowout for most punters in recent years with local gallopers Luckygray and Mr Moet taking out the last two edition of the race at a starting price of $20. This year’s renewal is also shaping up as a tricky one for punters to assess with only three runners under double figure odds in early markets. The Cleaner ($4.60 favourite), Elite Belle ($7.00) and Respondent ($6.00) head an open market with a further six runners at $15.00 or under. The Cleaner will be looking to become the first eastern-state horse to win the race since Gathering in 2010 who, like The Cleaner will attempt to do on Saturday, led throughout.

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Railway Stakes 2014 Field

No Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 THE CLEANER Mick Burles Steven Arnold 8 58kg
2 MORIARTY (IRE) Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 19 57kg
3 SMOKIN’ JOEY Wez Hunter Ben Melham 6 56kg
4 ALMA’S FURY Tony Gollan Michael Rodd 18 55.5kg
5 MR MOET Adam Durrant Paul Harvey 14 55.5kg
6 IHTSAHYMN Fred Kersley Steven Parnham 10 54.5kg
7 ELITE BELLE Grant Williams William Pike 16 53.5kg
8 AMORINO Grant Williams Shaun Meeres 2 53kg
9 BALMONT GIRL Paula Wagg Shaun O’Donnell 15 53kg
10 BASS STRAIT (NZ) Neville Parnham Chris Parnham (a) 3 53kg
11 CHESTER ROAD Adam Durrant Peter Hall 17 53kg
12 FANCY FEET Shane Quilty Ryan Hill 20 53kg
13 FUCHSIA BANDANA Darren Mcauliffe Jarrad Noske 11 53kg
14 PLATINUM ROCKER Simon A Miller Peter Knuckey 9 53kg
15 RANGER Adam Durrant Dom Tourneur 5 53kg
16 RESPONDENT Grant Williams Brad Parnham 1 53kg
17e TRADING DAY Warren Wilson 12 53kg
18e EXPRESS SERVICE Darren Mcauliffe 13 53kg
19e MISS ROSE DE LAGO Simon A Miller Jason Brown 7 53kg
20e REBELSON Darren Mcauliffe 4 53kg

 

1. THE CLEANER – S Arnold (8) 58kgs

The cult hero was game in the G1 WS Cox Plate when ninth (3.4 lengths) behind Adelaide before giving in-form pairing of Hucklebuck and Lucky Hussler – whom he gave 2.5 and 3kgs to respectively, plenty to run down in the G1 Emirates Stakes. Will stick to his tried and true pattern of letting go at the 800m and they’ll have to be at their top of the game to run him down given his current form.

 

2. MORIARTY – N Rawiller (19) 57kgs

Winner of the Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick before two plain runs in Victoria saw him finish out of the placings in both the Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes. Has only the one win from six starts over a mile but has finished close up in races such as the Chelmsford Stakes and Chipping Norton – both under WFA condition. He’ll appreciate the 57kgs but not the horror draw which will see him settle well back.

 

3. SMOKIN JOEY – B Melham (6) 56kgs

The enigmatic 7yo has missed a place in each of his four starts this campaign, the most recent of which saw him cross the line in seventh spot (3.6 lengths) behind Hucklebuck in the G1 Emirates Stakes (1600m). Just held his ground last start and given he has one placing from nine starts over a mile, happy to risk him on what we’ve seen from him this prep.

 

4. ALMA’S FURY – M Rodd (18) 55.5kgs

The 7yo gelding has been racing in great style since joining the Queensland stables of Tony Gollan earlier this year. There was good money for him when posted deep throughout and running a courageous second to Hosting in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) before again, just not having the right kind of luck from behind the leader’s back when second to Hucklebuck in the G2 Yellowglen Stakes (1400m). Form out of the race has shaped up very well and is going well enough to be right in this but then the run of misfortune kicked in again at the barrier draw!

 

5. MR MOET – P Harvey (14) 55.5kgs

Trainer Adam Durrant will be out to prove that 2012’s victory was no fluke and as he did then, will be producing Mr Moet first up from a spell. This year the spell has been a lengthy eleven months and he will carry an extra 2kgs but, he has had two well-spaced trials since 6th October so has been in work and will be ready for this. Drew much better last year also (4) and will find it harder from this year’s gate.

 

6. IHTSAHYMN – S Parnham (10) 54.5kgs

W.A’s leading 3yo last season has struggled to recapture his best form in three runs back from a spell. He started 40/1 and finished second to last in a field of eight in the G3 Prince Of Wales (1200m) before only slightly better in the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) when fifth (2.8 lengths) behind Magnifiso. Did have to carry 59kgs last start so well appreciate the drop in weight and the step up to the mile but still wanted to see a bit more from his last two heading into a Group 1.

 

7. ELITE BELLE – W Pike (16) 53.5kgs

Finished too well first up and took out the G3 Prince Of Wales (1200m) before suffering an injury during the race and finishing fourth (2.3 lengths) behind Magnifisio in the Lee Steere Stakes as the 9/10 on favourite. The Canny Lad mare is unbeaten in three attempts over a mile which includes a victory over Ranger in the G3 Hyperion Stakes. Drops down to a nice weight here and has the ability to run a bold race despite the poor draw.

 

8. AMORINO – S Meeres (2) 53kgs

He was in outstanding form last campaign winning five of six races including the Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m) in good fashion defeating Waterman’s Bay by 2.5 lengths. Just held his ground first up when returning from a seventh month spell when sixth (3.8 lengths) in the G3 Prince Of Wales (1200m) and it was a similar story at his only start since when sixth again in the G3 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m). Carried 58.5kgs and 59kgs respectively in those two races and won’t know himself here with only 53kgs. Third up now, at his peak and from a rails draw, may produce a run better than his $17.00 suggests.

 

9. BALMONT GIRL – D O’Donnell (15) 53kgs

Finished steadily first up to claim third (2.5 lengths) behind Fuchsia Bandana in the G3 Northerly Stakes but made good improvement with that run under her belt to claim the G3 Asian Beauty Stakes (1400m) at her following start, finishing from midfield to defeat Black Heart Bart – good in last week’s Peters Stakes – by ¾ of a length. 4yo mare that continues to make good improvement with racing and is sure to have her fair share of admirers here.

 

10. BASS STRAIT – C Parnham (3) 53kgs

Caught the eye finishing well late to run fifth (2.1 lengths) to Balmont Girl in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes when having his first local start for trainer Neville Parnham and backed that up with a long neck win in last week’s Peters Stakes (1400m) over Respondent. Got the gun run last time out and should find a similar position here, drops 5kgs and if he’s rediscovered his best Victorian form that saw him run fifth (1 lengths) behind Fiorente in the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam and within four length of Solzhenitsyn in the G1 Toorak – both over a mile, he’s a show again here too.

 

11. CHESTER ROAD – P Hall (17) 53kgs

Adam Durrant did it last year with Mr Moet, win this race first up, but has set himself a bigger task with this 7yo gelding who hasn’t faced the starter since December of 2012! Like Mr Moet, he has had two trials since early October and whilst his form prior to the break was good, such a lengthy lay-off and a wide draw make it impossible for him to be included in selections.

 

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12. FANCY FEET – R Hill (20) 53kgs

The 5yo mare resumed from a spell over a mile and did all she could do first up when sixth (4.9 lengths) behind Rebelson and Son Of Something in the Northam Cup before sticking on tenaciously from on-pace position and running third (0.9 lengths) to Pop Culture in the Ascot Gold Cup (1800m). Fitter again but the stiffer opposition and the widest gate will see her struggle.

 

13. FUCHSIA BANDANA – J Noske (11) 53kgs

Sat on the speed and was too strong in recording a comfortable 1.5 length win over Miss Rose De Lago two starts back in the Northerly Stakes (1400m). The Trade Fair mare then set the pace in the G2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) and again gave her opposition plenty to run down, finishing a head second Magnifisio. Going very well this time in drops 4kgs on her last start but this her first attempt at a mile and the challengers will be coming fast late.

 

14. PLATINUM ROCKER – P Knuckey (9) 53kgs

Has drawn well in each of his two runs back from a spell – the G3 Prince Of Wales and G2 Lee Steere Stakes – and had his chance in both before finishing fifth (3 lengths) and third (2 lengths) respectively. Ran a big race in this event last year, finishing half a length second to Luckygray, but was coming off stronger form and find it hard to see him replicating that effort of his two runs in this campaign.

 

15. RANGER – D Tourneur (5) 53kgs

It’s been a long time now since this 8yo last saluted – three years in fact when he took out the G2 Lee Steere Stakes. The son of Testa Rossa has been placed at G3 and G2 level consistently since but he longer the winless drought, the harder it is for him to break and he won’t find this any easier than his three unplaced runs this time in.

 

16. RESPONDENT – B Parnham (1) 53kgs

Worked home but was probably looking for longer than the 1400m second up when third (1.2 lengths) to Balmont Girl in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes before, under 58.5kgs, failing to reel in Bass Strait by a long neck when second in last week’s Peters Stakes (1500m). The 53kgs here sees him well in and his last start over a mile resulted in a comfortable victory over Ihtsahymn and Black Heart Bart in the Listed Lex Piper Stakes last season. The 4yo by Haradasun still has his best racing ahead of him and can run a cheeky race here.

 

17. TRADING DAY – (12) 53kgs

Had to cross from a poor draw to take up his favourite position as pace-maker in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) before finishing sixth (2.2 lengths) to Balmont Girl. Sat on the speed again from a much more favourable draw (3) at his only start since, last week’s G3 Peters Stakes (1400m) and stuck on well to claim third (0.8 lengths) behind Bass Strait and Respondent. Will push forward here but will have no peace with The Cleaner sure to put the pressure on early.

 

18. EXPRESS SERVICE – (13) 53kgs

Weakened from an on-pace position to run sixth and eleventh in the G3 Northerly Stakes and G3 Asian Beau Stakes respectively, before sticking on much better than expected from the lead position to finishing fifth (1.5 lengths) behind Bass Strait in last week’s G3 Peters Stakes. Will push forward again but like Trading Day, will be kept honest and tested by The Cleaner who’ll be breather down their necks.

 

19. MISS ROSE DE LAGO – J Brown (7) 53kgs

Had her head in the adjoining barrier and didn’t get away cleanly when sixth (2.3 lengths) in last week’s G3 Peters Stakes. That was her first run in a month and she can be forgiven give the jump. Best to go on her previous start, a second placing to Fuchsia Bandana in the Northerly Stakes with Balmont Girl and Respondent – both good again since, filling the placings. Should get a nice run here from gate seven just off the pace but her only win from the past eight starts has been in Open company and would like to see he win at this level before tipping her to do so.

 

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20. REBELSON – (4) 53kgs

Dead-heated with Son of Something in the Northam Cup two starts back and was again involved in a close finish when second (0.8 length) to Pop Culture. The 5yo gelding by Snippetson has rolled along out in front at each of the above two starts and whilst he has drawn to take up a similar position again, can’t see him holding off the late challengers that will be coming at him at this level.

 

Railway Stakes 2014 Odds/Results

RACE OVERVIEW

Pace here will be good with a few within in the big field eager to push forward including Trading Day, Fuchsia Bandana, Platinum Rocker, Fancy Feet and of course, The Cleaner. The Cleaner’s form is first rate having finished within 3.5 lengths of the winner in some of the toughest Group 1 races on the calendar at his past two starts. Respondent and Bass Strait – the quinella from last week’s Peters Stakes, have both drawn in and should get lovely runs throughout. A touch of luck at the top of the straight should see both figure in the finish again. Alma’s Fury has raced with minimal luck in running at her last two but his form and that surrounding him, makes the $13.00 on offer too good to pass up despite the poor draw.

Best longshot – Amorino

  1. THE CLEANER
  2. RESPONDENT
  3. BASS STRAIT
  4. ALMA’S FURY

News:

Trainer Grahame Begg is to shut his Randwick stable, ending a family association with the famous Sydney racetrack spanning almost half a century.

Begg, who has won 12 Australian Group One races, will wind up the stable’s racing commitments next month.

“After 25 years I am closing my Randwick stable in December,” Begg posted on Twitter.

“Thank you to my family, clients & loyal staff.”

Begg learned about racehorses while working under his father Neville, who after opening stables at Randwick in 1967, went on to become one of Sydney’s best trainers.

As his father’s right-hand man, Begg was associated with many top-class gallopers.

But none were better than Emancipation, one of the finest racemares of the modern era.

When his father was lured to Hong Kong to train in 1990, Begg took over the Randwick operation known as Baramul Lodge and enjoyed instant success.

Barely a few months after he was granted a trainer’s licence, veteran galloper Eye Of The Eye saluted for him in the 1990 Doomben Cup.

It was not long after that Begg trained Whisked to win the Thousand Guineas during the Victorian spring carnival.

Whisked earned further fame away from the racetrack as the mother of champion stayer Tie The Knot.

Eye Of The Sky and Whisked would be the first two of seven Group One wins during the 1990s while Begg made an impact on the global stage when Monopolize won back-to-back Hong Kong International Bowls.

The most recent of Begg’s Group One triumphs came at Randwick in 2011 when Secret Admirer claimed the Epsom Handicap.

He also trained Ilovethiscity to win the Randwick Guineas in the same year.

Begg has one acceptor at Randwick on Saturday, the last-start Warwick Farm winner Wine `n’ Dine who is rated a $26 chance in the Choose Segenhoe Handicap.

“It is a way of life,” Begg once said of the seven-day-a-week demand of training a string of racehorses.”

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