Thursday’s L’Oreal Paris Stakes (Chatham Stakes) winner Rageese will head west across to Perth in a fortnight’s time stepping up to a mile for a shot at the Railway Stakes 2016.

Rageese is 2016 Railway Stakes bound after a Crown Oaks Day win at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart.
Trainer Darren Weir was impressed with the way the improving four-year-old Street Cry stallion hit the line at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day in the $200,000 Group 3 L’Oreal Paris Stakes (1400m) – registered as the Chatham Stakes.
“We’ve been heading towards this race all preparation,” Weir said post-win.
“It was a truly run race this…they ran along very strong and he got a nice cart into it.
“He let down great.”
The progressive galloper came from midfield during a hotly run edition of the handicap with Damian Lane producing him late in a patient ride to score a tidy win over French import Arod (2nd) and the luckless Federal (3rd) who missed the kick.
Rageese improved on a second over 1500m at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate eve to enjoy his first win since the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville back in late April.
The horse is now a three-time winner at 1400m, Weir keen to stretch him out to a mile on November 19 at Ascot Racecourse in the $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
“He books a trip to the Railway and gets his chance to run in a Group 1,” Weir said.
“Hopefully he pulls up well and we’ll head across there in a fortnight.
“The way he ran through the line today, you’d think the mile wouldn’t be a problem.
“If he can switch off and the race is run truly, I don’t think it [the distance] will be a problem.”
The last Railway Stakes winner to come off a lead-up run at Flemington was Sniper’s Bullet (2009) who won the Group 1 Emirates Stakes – then run over a mile.
Hooked led the field around followed by the favourite and top-weight Takedown who had to do early work three wide to improve on the outside, attack the early leaders and settle in second.
Eventual runner-up Arod, now prepared by Chris Waller and racing in Australia for the first time since his second last (14th) in the Emirates Stakes last Melbourne Cup Carnival, ran along in fourth and then third throughout.
The John O’Shea-trained Federal, coming off a fourth to The United States in the Crystal Mile, meanwhile was getting up on the inside by the time they hit the straight after missing the start by nearly a length.
Hooked was tackled with 300m to go by Takedown under the big weight, while Rageese came hard and fast with his run down the outside joining in and pulling clear finally putting it all together and living up to his ability.
“He’s held his form well,” winning hoop Lane said.
“He finished great for me.
“He hit the line hard.”
To back Rageese next start in the Railway Stakes 2016 at the right price – head to Ladbrokes.com.au.
2016 L’Oreal Paris (Chatham) Stakes Results
Flemington Race 6 – 03/11/2016
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | RAGEESE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | – | 7 | 54kg | $6 |
2 | 2 | AROD (IRE) | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 1L | 6 | 59kg | $15 |
3 | 9 | FEDERAL | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 1.75L | 1 | 54.5kg | $4.80 |
4 | 3 | AMOVATIO | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 2.25L | 4 | 57.5kg | $11 |
5 | 1 | TAKEDOWN | Gary Moore | Blake Shinn | 2.45L | 10 | 59.5kg | $4F |
6 | 4 | NINTH LEGION | Peter Robl | Brenton Avdulla | 3.45L | 9 | 57.5kg | $16 |
7 | 14 | TADDEI TONDO | Gerard Moloney | Patrick Moloney | 4.95L | 3 | 54kg | $101 |
8 | 10 | COSMIC CUBE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 5.95L | 2 | 54kg | $31 |
9 | 5 | HOOKED | Wez Hunter | Damien Oliver | 6.35L | 5 | 57kg | $26 |
10 | 6 | KENJORWOOD | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 6.75L | 8 | 56.5kg | $41 |
11 | 11 | CLEARLY INNOCENT | Greg Bennett | Kerrin McEvoy | 8L | 11 | 54kg | $5 |
– | 15 | DENPURR | Peter & Paul Snowden | Michael Walker | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 7 | AKAVOROUN | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 8 | ENTIRELY PLATINUM (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 12 | DAN ZEPHYR | Pat Carey | Michael Dee (a) | – | 0 | – | – |