The racing highlight of the day at not only Ascot but right across Australia this weekend, has to be the running of the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes. Luckygray looks set to register his second consecutive Kingston Town Classic after an impressive win in last fortnight’s Railway Stakes, which made it thirteen wins from eighteen starts in WA for the son of Bradbury’s Luck. Given that in the Railway, a race conducted under handicap conditions, he gave most of the rivals he faces here weight, at the WFA scale of this race, it is hard to see them turning the tables.
[include file=”inpost_adrotator.php”]
Kingston Town Classic Form Guide
1. LUCKYGRAY – S O’Donnell (7)
Returned home after running second to last in the G1 Toorak Handicap and produced a strong finish behind Conservatorium in the G2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m), running fourth by a length. That run, his first for a month, prepared him well for the G1 Railways Stakes a fortnight ago where, despite the wide gate (12 of 15) and hefty weight carried (58kgs) in the handicap race, he again finished strongly to win by ½ length over Platinum Rocker. Relishing being back in WA and meets several he defeated in the Railway better at the weights.
2. PLAYING GOD – P Harvey (10)
The 6yo won the G3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at his second run back from a spell before finishing on the heels of the place-getters in the G2 Lee Steere (1400m) and Railway Stakes (1600m). He has drawn poorly and has closed well from the tail of the field in his most recent starts, doing well all things considered to get within a length and a half of both Conservatorium (Lee Steere Stakes) and Luckygray (Railway Stakes). Unfortunately, he has again drawn poorly which does not make this assignment any easier though.
3. MR MOET – P Hall (11)
Had a lovely run in transit and did well to run sixth (beaten 2 ¼ lengths) behind Fawkner in the G1 Caulfield Cup before, under the WFA conditions of the G1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), he again put his best foot forward and finished fourth (beaten 1.4 lengths) behind Side Glance and Dear Demi. Returned to WA three weeks after that run and, given his wide draw (15 of 15) and the drop in distance to the mile of the Railway Stakes, the 6yo trained by Adam Durrant ran on well from last on the turn to finish seventh (beaten 2 ¾ lengths) behind Luckygray. He had to come around the field on the turn whilst the winner saved ground inside runners. The step up to 1800m will suit but enough to offset the horrible draw?
4. GOD HAS SPOKEN – B Parnham (3)
The Neville Parnham trained galloper lines up for his fourth attempt at this race with his best efforts so far resulting in a second placing behind Sniper’s Bullet in 2010 and third to Luckygray in last year’s edition. The 7yo looks set to play a prominent part again after last start finishing 1.4 lengths fifth behind Luckygray in the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m). From the inside gate he found himself in an awkward spot on the turn, four back on the fence and having to pick runs through the field in the run home. From a better draw today could see him running a big race at a price.
5. RANGER – J Noske (5)
It’s been just over two years now since the son of Testa Rossa last won however; he has come close to breaking that duck on more than one occasion. His six starts since May this year, all in Group company have seen him fill a place in four of those races including, at his most recent start, the G2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) his second run back from a spell, when a neck third behind Conservatorium and Checkpoint. Fourth in the race was Luckygray. The Grant Williams trained galloper hasn’t run since then – four weeks ago now – and will be giving most a start at the top of the straight however, nothing wrong with his two runs back and represents some value for the exotics.
6. ROHAN – G Smith (4)
After two strong performances behind Playing God and Platinum Rocker resuming from a spell, the 5yo trained by Vaughan Sigley has started a short price favourite at his two recent starts punters He stated 7/4 favourite in the G3 R. J. Peters (1500m) and finished ¾ length behind Kerrific (fourth in Railway Stakes since) before starting even shorter (5/4) in the Listed Tatt’s Cup (2100m) a fortnight ago and running eighth of thirteen. He needed to be winning and winning well at his last start to be considered a genuine hope here.
7. BLACK TYCOON – D Staeck (1)
After three plain efforts in Listed races back from a spell, the 8yo by Blackfriars produced his best last start to win the Listed Tatt’s Cup (2100m) a fortnight ago. It was a tough win under 58kgs and may be an indication that he is back closer to the form that saw him register a win over Ranger and Kerrific earlier this year in the WFA G3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) but for now, would still have to be taken on trust.
8. TALENT SHOW – M Pate (9)
After several unsuccessful starts in Victoria during the spring, the 7yo mare by Jeune returned home to WA early last month and has had two runs since. It was her first run in a month and she was allocated 59kgs when fourteenth of sixteen in the Listed Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) before finishing eleventh of fifteen in the Railway Stakes. Last and buried on the fence as they turned in the Railway, she then struck interference approaching the 200m before finishing 4 ½ lengths behind Luckygray. A return to 1800 a plus but still needs to find several lengths of improvement.
9. MOONLIGHT BAY – C Parnham (9)
At her third run back from a spell early last month, the Catbird mare appreciated stepping up to the 1800m for the first time this prep and registered a half length win in the Listed Ascot Gold Cup as a 25/1 shot. She proved it was no fluke with another solid effort running fourth (beaten 1 ¾ lengths) behind Black Tycoon in the Listed Tatts Cup. Last two efforts have been solid but this is a step up in grade again and under the WFA conditions, will more than likely to be accounted for.
10. ELITE BELLE – W Pike (6)
Lightly raced 5yo mare has been in solid form ever since returning from a long layoff in May of this year. After closing well to run a neck second to Kerrific in the G3 R. J. Peters Stakes (1400m) two starts back, she went one better when claiming the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1400m) with a strong 1 ¾ length win. Steps up to 1800m and WFA but has had four solid hit-outs over 1400m-1500m and no better time than now for her to have a crack at the top grade.
11. ITSAHYMN – S Parnham (2)
Very promising type by Royal Academy stallion Ihtarim, he notched up his fourth win from eight starts with an impressive length win in last fortnight’s G2 W.A Guineas (1600m). Settling toward the tail Itsahyman pushed his way clear passing the 300m mark before letting down with a strong finishing burst defeating the previously unbeaten Miss Rose De Lago. It was his second win from as many starts over the mile gave the impression last start that the 1800m should suit even further. Would be surprised if he did not figure prominently.
RACE OVERVIEW
Hard to find a natural leader here so it will be interesting to see what tactics some of the better hopes such Luckygray, Mr. Moet and Playing God, who have all drawn wide, take in the early stages of this race. Hard to argue against Luckygray here – he was impressive last start and meets them all much better at the weights. He seems the obvious choice. Mr. Moet lost several lengths on the winner last start rounding the turn when having to come around the field. For mine, he finished just as well as Luckygray and the step 1800m will help narrow the margin of last start even more. The 3yo Itsahymn was impressive in the least last fortnight and with only 52kgs to carry, will be involved in the finish.
- LUCKYGRAY
- ITSAHYMN
- MR MOET
