The gelding, ridden by Nash Rawiller, made a dashing return to winning form in his first victory since taking out the $1million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm back in 2007.

Sniper’s Bullet defeated the fast-finishing Tarzi by a length with another local runner, Colour Correct, coming in third. It was an impressive victory for the six-year-old, trained by former jockey Tracey Bartley, as he showed sensational speed after starting wide from barrier 14. Running aggressively from the start, Sniper’s Bullet with Rawiller displayed bolder tactics than last year, taking off at the 600m with a steady burst of acceleration that saw them secure victory.

Saturday’s win in Western Australia’s richest race took Sniper’s Bullet’s total career winnings to over $2million and he became the first interstate horse to win the Railway Stakes since Slavonic in 1999.

It was a disappointing finish for the odds-on favourite Gold Salute and his jockey Damien Oliver, the duo only beating two other entrants to place 14^th. The Mark Riley-trained runner played up when being lead into the gates and then lost a shoe off his right front foot that ripped off a section of his hoof. It was Oliver’s tenth unsuccessful ride in the Railway.

The spring’s most successful jockey, Corey Brown failed to fire with second favourite on Saturday All American. Brown, who rode the Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby and Emirates Stakes champions this year only managed to finish 11^th aboard the Emirates Stakes winner.

2009 Railway Stakes Final Finishing Order:

Scratched:

COCONUT GROVE
KASABIAN

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.

Hayes has not seen success in Perth?s premier thoroughbred event since his father trained the 1989 winner Better Loosen Up, but he is quietly hopeful this year with emerging talent All American currently the $5.50 second favourite for the race.

The punters are backing All American well following his upset win in the Emirates Stakes last start at Flemington on November 11 over the same 1600m distance. ?The victory, however, has attracted a hefty weight of 56kg that All American must carry and if victorious he will break the weight-to-win record. No Railway Stakes winner has bettered Hayes? Better Loosen Up who carried a hefty 55.5kg to victory.

Ridden by in-form jockey Corey Brown, All American pulled up well in the barrier draw and will start from gate two. Brown has had a sensational spring season, riding not only All American in his Emirates victory but also Monaco Consul in the Victoria Derby and Shocking in the Melbourne Cup for their wins.

Depending on Saturday?s performance, Hayes plans to either run All American in the Hong Kong Mile next month or spell the runner in anticipation of the autumn races including the Orr and Futurity Stakes.

Carrying a topweight of 57kg, Albie Beckett?s Megatic is the top qualifying horse while Gold Salute has remained the favourite at a solid $4.50.

Remaining at $8.00 is Tony Noonan?s Ortensia however after drawing a disappointing barrier 13, Noonan is not so confident about the mare?s chances of success.

Yet to race in a mile event, Ortensia would be much more suited to the Winterbottom Stakes but Noonan wants to keep the mare up with the other Group One milers.

Jockey Craig Williams is helping the mare settle well into the 1600m distance and has ridden the four year old in her past nine starts which includes four wins.

The Fred Kersley-trained Grand Nirvana is third on the betting list however will need to make up for his late third behind Elliotto in the R.J. Peters Stakes.

Kasabian is a strong contender in Saturday?s race with the Darren McAuliffe-trained gelding winning his past six starts including the Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) in which he maintained the lead throughout the entire race.

Railway Stakes Final Field:

The Mark Riley-trained gelding made it to first place on the ladder after placing second in the Toorak Handicap and finishing third behind All American in the Emirates Stakes.

Ortensia is listed as second favourite with TAB Sportsbet at $7.50 while Vigor is at $9.00 after finishing seventh in the Emirates Stakes.

All American is up at $10.00 along with Sniper?s Bullet and Grand Nirvana.

The Winterbottom Stakes is held one week later and sprinting extraordinaire Apache Cat is the current favourite at $3.40 followed by Ortensia at $5 and David Hayes? stallion Nicconi is a good chance at $6.00.

Unbeaten Perth locals Hay list and Waratah?s Secret are at $6.50 and $8.00 respectively.

A further week and the Group One Kingston Town Classic will be held at Ascot and Scenic Shot is the current favourite at $4.60.

Vigor is at $7.00 ahead of Orentsia, Snipers Bullet and Megatic which are all at $9.00.

While there are a few punters starting to bet on the Railway Stakes and the Kingstown Town Classic, the best backed race is currently the Winterbottom Stakes with Hay List receiving the most money.

Ridden by Corey Brown, the four year old will first head to Perth compete in the Railway Stakes on Saturday after leaving trainer David Hayes? stables last night.

Following the $1 million event, the stallion will fly to Hong Kong and will continue to be partnered with champion jockey Brown.

Although All American had not had a win for 20 months before last Saturday?s Emirates Stakes, he proved his Group One ability by being the second fastest 1600m horse at Flemington as well as having the best sectionals in the Toorak.

Over the past few months there have been several Australian horses which have been invited to Hong Kong to compete in the Cathay Pacific International Races held on December 13.

In late October Scenic Blast and Apache Cat received their invitations and Gold Salute?s stable is holding their breath in anticipation for an invite due today.

Sandown

At Sandown, November 14 will feature three of the biggest races during the Sandown Classic Day.

First up on the list is the Group Two Sandown Classic worth $400,000 in prize money.

This 2400m open weight-for-age race will feature some of the best up-and-coming two year olds during the spring carnival.

With a long straight and uphill run home, Sandown racecourse will sort out the real contenders from the pretenders in this tough staying race.

The Sandown Guineas is a 1600m set weights race which is limited to colts, geldings and fillies aged three years old.

Also worth $400,000 in prize money, the Group Two event will feature youngsters which are not quite ready for a Group One event but still have promising futures as milers.

The Group Three Sandown Stakes is a 1500m handicap and it is the last quality sprint race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Sandown also features the Eclipse Stakes Day on Saturday the 21^st of November which includes the Group Three Eclipse Stakes.

Raced over 1800m, the quality handicap is worth $125,000 and is suited to middle distance horses.

Perth

November is a huge month for the west side of the country with Ascot featuring over six major races including the $1 million Railway Stakes.

November 14 will see Ascot hosting the Group Three Colonel Reeves Stakes (1200m) and the RJ Peters Stakes (1500m), which are both quality handicaps.

The Group Two WA Guineas is the major event at this Saturday?s races and is worth $250,000 in prize money.

Raced over 1600m, the event attracts three year olds which are capable milers under set weight conditions.

The following Saturday (November 21) is the major event with the Group One Railway Stakes taking place in the middle of the day.

This open handicap race is a 1600m event which may feature Emirates Stakes winner All American.

The Group Two Winterbottom Stakes takes place on Saturday November 28 and is worth $400,000 in prize money.

As a 1200m weight-for-age event, the race will attract plenty of sprinters which have raced in Colonel Reeves Stakes.

After an 18 race losing streak, All American stunned both bookmakers and punters after beating race favourite So You Think by two and a half lengths.

Bart Cummings? three year old settled up the front too early and was unable to sit back in fourth or fifth position with cover.

Setting the pace too strong too early, the Glen Boss-ridden So You Think had nothing to give when All American charged up to the lead position.

It was obvious that Cummings was disappointed with Boss? ride and the Cox Plate winner will now be spelled and then prepared for autumn with the Australian Cup and AJC Australian Derby as the main targets.

Settling midfield in the race, All American was stuck on the rails and it seemed as though he would once again become a victim of circumstances.

However coming into the straight the four year old got lucky to win .5 seconds off the course record with 1 minute 33.98 seconds.

After Nicconi?s devastating run in the Patinack Farm Classic, Hayes went from thinking his spring campaign was in tatters to being overjoyed.

This season the six-time Emirate Stakes winning trainer changed up the stallion?s training by making the horse go over jumps to sharpen him up.

All American has been a frustrating horse for David Hayes to train particularly when he would run the best sectionals at the Caulfield carnival but never win.

This win has now secured the Group One winner a promising future as a stallion when he retires to stud.

For Corey Brown, the Emirates Stakes marked his third win during the Flemington Carnival along with the Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup.

Having never ridden All American before Saturday?s race, Brown had to study his form prior to the race and although the jockey was a bit flat from all the week?s wins, he was back on a high and ready to race as he entered into the barrier gates.

The Mark Riley-trained Gold Salute finished third after blowing the start and settling near last to charge home late close behind So You Think.

As All American cannot cover any mares over the Christmas period, Hayes might send the Emirates Stakes winner to Perth for the Railway Stakes.

Eagle Falls is Hayes’ major contender in the $1 million Emirates Stakes and the trainer is confident the gelding is capable of rising 400 meters in distance for the event.

Although the four year old recently won the 1200m Salinger Stakes, he is yet to win a 1600m event and tomorrow’s race will determine whether Eagle Falls will remain a sprinter or if he can handle the longer distances.

Drawing barrier 15, Hayes has been working with Eagle Falls to see if going forward or staying back in the race will suit the horse best.

The trainer’s second runner in the Emirates Stakes is four year old All American which is hoping for a change of luck after a disappointing spring campaign so far.

Starting from barrier six, the stallion is highly competitive after running third in the Crystal Mile despite not placing better than sixth in his last few meetings.

Von Costa De Hero has only won one race out of eighteen starts and although he seems like an unlikely winner of the event, the stallion has proven that he is capable of running a mile after an excellent trial the other day.

Apart from his strong hand in the Emirates Stakes, Hayes also has his four year old Nicconi in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic.

The trainer has been talking up Nicconi’s prospects in this race as this has been the event he has been preparing the stallion for.

Although he hasn’t been raced since placing third in the Manikato Stakes in September, Hayes is confident that Nicconi will be able to beat Apache Cat and Turffontein in the 1200m event.

Ridden by Brad Rawiller, Nicconi will be using the Patinack Farm Classic as a boost to an overseas campaign that will hopefully see the horse in Dubai or the UK in autumn.

Patinack Farm Classic Current Field