An against-the-odds triumph in Ascot’s Railway Stakes nearly forty years ago has become the unlikely source of motivation for Annabel Archibald as she prepares Depth Of Character for a Perth mission.
Archibald secured the Group 1 last year with Port Lockroy, who jumped from barrier seven, but after Depth Of Character came up with the extreme outside in the 16-runner line-up for Saturday’s edition, she went digging through history to steady the nerves.
“There was a horse called Marwong, who Simon Marshall won on when he was seventeen years old,” Archibald said.
“It won from (barrier) sixteen in 1988, so I got it up on YouTube.
“I think there have been three winners from that gate. It’s due again.”
Beyond the awkward alley, Depth Of Character heads west with a remarkably similar setup to Port Lockroy’s 2024 victory.
Both tackled the race off strong efforts in the Golden Eagle (1500m), with Depth Of Character powering home from the back to finish fourth behind top mare Autumn Glow.
That came after a luckless passage in the Silver Eagle (1300m), and this weekend the four-year-old gains the services of in-form Sydney rider Reece Jones, fresh off his Five Diamonds win on Vivy Air.
“Reece is riding in really good form at the moment and it’s nice to give him a Group One opportunity,” Archibald said.
“The horse profiles well. He is coming off the back of a really good run in the Golden Eagle.
“Probably a similar run to what we had with Port Lockroy the year before.
“But Depth Of Character is better credentialled. He is a Group Two winner, and he was unlucky not to run second in the Silver Eagle. He never got off the bridle and was uncontested to the line.
“He is going well. He is just going to need luck.”
Archibald is only the second interstate trainer in the past ten years to capture the Railway Stakes (1600m), a race that has largely remained in WA hands.
Grant and Alana Williams dominated the race with four consecutive wins from 2018-21 and saddle three contenders again this year, along with two of the four emergencies.
