Trainer Tracey Bartley is hoping that the use of bolder tactics for tomorrow’s $1 million Railway Stakes will help Sniper’s Bullet overcome last year’s defeat.
After a short head loss to Gilded Venom in last year’s Group One Railway Stakes, Sniper’s Bullet will need to race aggressively to ensure he does not finish as runner up in this year’s event.
The Mudgee based trainer has been using the same training routine as last year and has enlisted the help of jockey Nash Rawiller to ride the six year old out of the difficult barrier 14.
Sniper’s Bullet has settled well in Perth after arriving in Western Australia a fortnight ago however his past four starts in Sydney and Melbourne have raised doubts whether the gelding can step up to the challenge.
The horse was not successful in any of his past spring races but did manage to stay close to the mark.
In the Emirates Stakes, Sniper’s Bullet finished fifth behind All American after clipping his heels at the 300m mark, which caused him to lose momentum.
Not a heavy favourite with the punters, Sniper’s Bullet main rivals are All American and the standout favourite Gold Salute.
Currently dropping from $4 to $3, the Mark Riley-trained Gold Salute is in excellent form for the Railway Stakes and also has the influence of Damien Oliver to increase his favouritism with the punters.
Racing against top miler All American, Gold Salute will have the advantage with 2.5kg better comparative weight terms.
After winning the Winter Championship under Damien Oliver in June, the six year old gelding was sent on a spell and upon returning was placed in all four of his starts.
The horse won over 1440m at Caulfield in late September and was then runner up in the Toorak.
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