The 2019 Railway Stakes headlines a big day of racing at Ascot on Saturday and we are set for a very competitive Group 1 event.
The Railway Stakes betting market suggests that there are a host of winning chances and we could be in for another upset.
We have analysed every single horse in the field and our complete 2019 Railway Stakes tips can be found below.
Gatting
Gatting showed his quality with his victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes during the Spring Racing Carnival and a repeat of that effort would make him very tough to beat in the Railway Stakes. That performance does seem like something of an outlier and he finished at the tail of the field in the Ladbrokes Stakes, but he was able to return to a semblance of his best form with a second place finish in the Lee Steere Stakes at Ascot last start. The step back-up to 1600 metres is ideal and he did finished second in the Railway Stakes 12 months ago. The $12 currently available is over the odds.
Best Of Days
It has been over a year since Best Of Days won the Kennedy Mile and it is fair to say that he hasn’t turned into the weight-for-age Group 1 talent that he looked as though he could be. His form this campaign has been mixed. He finished third in both the Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes and the Crystal Mile before he finished a more than credible fifth in the Cantala Stakes. That form would have him in the mix, but he does also have to handle the trip to Perth and that can be tough. $9 does look around the right price.
Star Exhibit
Star Exhibit continues to be something of a marvel and he stamped himself as a genuine Railway Stakes contender with an impressive win in the Lee Steere Stakes. He was able to run all the fastest closing sectionals in that contest and the step-up to 1600 metres is ideal for him. The Statue Of Liberty gelding doesn’t have any early speed and will get a long way back in the run, so luck in running will be crucial. He is yet another winning chance in what is an extremely open race.
Achernar Star
Achernar Star has raced fairly without being overly impressive during his Summer campaign to date. His second place finish behind The Velvet King in the Northerly Stakes was good, but he was a little bit disappointing when he finished fourth behind Star Exhibit in the Lee Steere Stakes. He is capable of a high-rating performance on his day and the $10 currently available does seem around the right price.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik has been sent back to Perth after he recorded an upset win in the Chatham Stakes at Flemington on Mackinnon Stakes Day. That was easily a career best performance and he has never really shown anything previously to suggest that he is capable of winning a race of this quality.
The Velvet King
The Velvet King is currently on top of Railway Stakes betting. He beat Achernar Star to win the Northerly Stakes at Ascot a couple of starts ago before he finished a close third behind Star Exhibit and Gatting in the Lee Steere Stakes. He meets Gatting and Achenar Star much better at the weights in the Railway Stakes and he does look like the horse that is weighted to win this contest. Chris Parnham will be able to settle him right on the speed and he will have every possible chance to claim a maiden Group 1 win.
Tellem We’re Comin
Tellem We’re Coming has gone to another level this campaign and he comes into the Railway Stakes on the back of a dominant victory in the Northam Cup. There was plenty of merit in that victory, but it does look like something of an outlier performance. The fact that William Pike has jumped off to ride Regal Power is something of a lead and he does look a little bit under the odds at $7.
Variation
Variation has been sent back to Western Australia after he finished a more than credible second behind Streets Of Avalon in the Ladbrokes Moonga Stakes. He is a horse that mixes his form and he has run well in the Railway Stakes in the past. He doesn’t have as much upside as some of the other horses in this field, but he probably does represent some value at $17.
Mizlecki
Mizlecki was soundly beaten in both the Asian Beau Stakes and the Lee Steere Stakes and he has never really shown anything to suggest that he is capable of winning this contest.
Perfect Jewel
2017 Western Australian Guineas winner Perfect Jewel finished a credible fourth in the Railway Stakes at big odds last year. She probably hasn’t lived up to the early hype and he was soundly beaten in the Asian Beau Stakes. It would surprise to see her claim a maiden Group 1 victory.
Manolo Blahniq
Manolo Blahniq has not recorded a race win since he took out the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington earlier this year. He raced fairly without winning in the Weekend Hussler Stakes, Ladbrokes Moonga Stakes and the Chatham Stakes. This is tougher and he doesn’t have the same upside as some of his other rivals.
Regal Power
Willie Pike will ride Regal Power in the Railway Stakes and that is sure to lead to plenty of interest in betting. Regal Power won the Western Australian Derby during the Autumn and she wasn’t disgraced when she finished second behind Samizdat in the Asian Beau Stakes. She will appreciate the step-up to 1600 metres and she does have upside, but the Kingston Town Classic does look like a better race for her.
Samizdat
Samizdat has recorded five wins from his eight race starts and he heads into the Railway Stakes on the back of an impressive win in the Asian Beau Stakes. He ran all the fastest closing sectionals in that contest and some of the best sectionals of the entire day. I’m still not completely sold on the overall quality of the form coming out of the Asian Beau Stakes and Samizdat is another galloper that looks to have found their right price.
Cockney Crew
This is a big step-up in class for Cockney Crew. He does have early speed and looks likely to take up the running in this contest, but he has never really shown anything to suggest that he is capable of winning a race of this quality.
Platoon
Platoon is on the quick back-up after finishing second behind Mississippi Delta in the RJ Peter Stakes at Ascot last start. That really doesn’t look like the strongest form reference for this race and he is one of the outsiders in Railway Stakes betting for a reason.
Tamasa
Tamasa is another horse that comes out of the RJ Peter Stakes. She hasn’t really fired since she was sent to Perth and it is tough to back her in this contest off her recent form.