The Perth Summer Racing Carnival heats up this Saturday with the running of the G1 Railway Stakes.
The $1.5 million mile feature highlights a nine-race card that will see three other black-type races including the G2 W.A. Guineas run.
Our carefully crafted thoughts on each race can be found below.
PULL THE TRIGGER (9) has been racing in terrific form this preparation and looks like a great each way play to start the day. The Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained grey gelding opened his campaign with a length win at Geraldton before sharing the win with Profit Pocket over this course and distance two starts back. Last start he fought gamely for a close third over 1600m here but will appreciate dropping back to this distance given he has won three of five starts over it. He’s at peak fitness now and did win his only previous fourth-up race which was over this distance. Mark Zahra is a key booking.
AFFLUENTIAL (7) was always going to need the run first-up and showed significant improvement when stepping up to 2200m here last start. The Michael Grantham-trained son of Zed enjoyed a nice run and gave a good kick but was picked off on the line to finish a nose second. He was 1600m to 2200m so will have taken benefit from the run and will strip fitter third-up. While I have no doubt he’ll be better over further given the hot run of form he showed last preparation over longer trips in Victoria, he can give this a massive shake with Mark Zahra in the saddle from a good draw.
I was with TALKANCO (9) on debut and I’m sticking fat given how impressive she was in winning. The Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained filly settled back in the contest over this course and distance before producing a devastating turn of foot that put pay to her rivals easily for a 1.7 length win with third a further 3.2 lengths away. She’ll have come on since that run and her race experience is invaluable against mostly debutantes. Chris Parnham just needs to get her room to gallop and she should be putting them away.
KESHI BOOM (7) looks ready to produce a peak performance third-up. The Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare was luckless when returning two starts back in a stronger race over this course and distance and probably should have challenged for the win. It was a similar scenario last start when she was climbing over their backs but just couldn’t get clear until it was all over and finished a close third. She’ll strip fitter third-up and won the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes when having her only previous third-up race which was this time last year. William Pike replaces the apprentice.
SENTIMENTAL HERO (6) was enormous last start in the Listed Luckygray Stakes and has to be considered one of the main players on that performance. The Peter Fernie-trained gelding raced three-wide the 1800m trip but still had the audacity to fight strongly and only go down late to finish just under a length second. This is his first attempt at this distance but given his strength last start and the fact he’s rock hard fit deep into the preparation, he should handle the 2100m well. Lucy Fiore can give him a great run close to the action in a race that looks limited for speed.
YONGA LASS (11) looks hard to beat following her super effort in the G3 R.J Peters Stakes last start. The Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare settled at the tail before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to miss the win by a head. She’s on the quick back-up and boasts an excellent third-up record having won twice and finished a close third in three third-up races. William Pike has a great relationship with her and will give her every chance to unwind in the straight.
STORYVILLE (14) is on the quick back-up after a breathtaking performance to win the G3 W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes last Saturday. The Grant & Alana Williams-trained daughter of Overshare settled last behind a slow speed before ‘The Wizard’ performed one of his best tricks to navigate a path along the inside to storm home for a dominant 1.8 length victory. She was luckless the start prior in the Listed Burgess Queens Stakes when going to the line untested with plenty to offer so her last start performance shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Unlike many of the fillies in this race, she’s ticked off the 1600m box.
Western Australians dream of winning the G1 Railway Stakes, but I think this year, dreams will be all they have as a visitor can take the spoils. I’m happy to support the Ciaron Maher-trained LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (5). The import was desperately unlucky and nearly came down when finishing 3.4 lengths seventh in the G2 Crystal Mile two starts back. He produced his best effort in Australia last start when letting down beautifully to win the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes over the Flemington mile by 2.3 lengths. James McDonald is coming off a red-hot Melbourne Spring Carnival and can give the six-year-old gelding a beautiful run from barrier 2.
WUBIN GOLD (2) returned in good order two starts back when finding the line strongly from the back to finish a length second over this course and distance. The daughter of Shooting To Win returned here last start where she savaged the line from the back to win arrogantly by a length. That was her fourth win from seven starts and she appears to have a lot more improvement to come. Troy Turner remains in the saddle and can give his mare a great run behind a suitable fast speed.