After a frustrating week at Flemington, sprint galloper Gold Salute will travel to Perth to try and claim a victory in the Group One Railway Stakes.
Trained by Mark Riley, the six year old gelding has performed well during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival however he seemed to be just off the mark when he finished second in the Group Three HKJC Stakes and again in the Group One Toorak Handicap when he finished a long neck behind Allez Wonder.
Controversially scratched at the gates for the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Gold Salute did manage to win a 1440m race at Caulfield in October but then flew home late to finish third in the Group One Emirates Stakes last Saturday.
With only one win in recent months, Riley is out to prove that this horse has the potential to be a great racehorse.
Flying out today for the Railway Stakes at Ascot, Gold Salute will compete in just the one event and will then be sent on a spell.
However his race to victory will not be easy with Perth local Kasabian proving to be one of the major contenders in the $1 million event.
Trainer Darren McAuliffe has Group One ambitions for the four year old gelding which has one all of his last three races over distances of 1200m and 1400m and has won a total of seven from 12 starts.
Aiming for the 1600m Railway Stakes, McAuliffe is not entering the horse in any races before the big event as ?everything is working out so far?.
