Of his five runners in Saturday’s Railway Stakes 2016 field at Ascot Racecourse owner Bob Peters believes the rails-drawn Heart Starter could be “the one” to win.
Disposition is one of five 2016 Railway Stakes hopefuls for owner Bob Peters this weekend at Ascot Racecourse. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The shortest-priced of Peters’ five strong contingent in the $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in Perth this summer is Group 1 winning mare Perfect Reflection.
Winner of last season’s Kingston Town Classic, the star four-year-old was last seen winning the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at the track a fortnight ago.
She gets into the Railway Stakes with 54.5kg, but will be out to make history with that weight as the 10 previous mares to win the mile classic over the past half a century carried only 54kg or under.
Still she is being kept safe in Railway Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at a firm $5 to hand co-trainer Grant Williams and jockey William Pike with their second success after that of fellow mare Elite Belle (2014) two years ago.
Peters meanwhile thinks that considering the weight of Perfect Reflection, his $16 shot in the Railway Stakes odds Heart Starter could be the standout roughie.
“Heart Starter might be the one,” the well-known local owner and breeder told The West Australia.
A consistent four-year-old son of Domesday, the gelding has won three of his six starts at the track and his only other mile assignment so far.
He boasts winning form up to 1800m though and so the meters are a non-issue on the weekend where he jumps from barrier one, which last produced a Railway Stakes winner with Old Fashion (2002).
Chris Parnham replaces Glenn Smith in the saddle, Smith having been aboard for a fourth in the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes (1500m) on Heart Starter just last weekend.
Gilded Venom (2nd in 2008) was the last RJ Peters Stakes graduate to back-up and win the Railway Stakes.
In that lead-up run Heart Starter carried 59kg, so looks very well-weighted dropping right back to the 53kg minimum on Saturday.
“He’s only got 53 kilos,” Peters added.
“Hopefully from barrier one, Chris can get him off the fence.”
Suffering an early blow drawing the outside alley in the capacity 16-starter field was Peters’ Reset five-year-old Disposition, a $12 chance to turn the tables on his stablemate when second in the Lee Steere Stakes last start.
“I would have liked Disposition to have drawn better because he’s getting fit now,” Peters admitted.
“Ideal Image will [also] have her work cut out from that barrier.”
More Than Ready mare Ideal Image for Peters Investments ran third in the RJ Peters last weekend from barrier nine (of 11), but has 17 (into 14) this weekend.
Peters’ final hopeful is Neverland in gate 10, a $41 roughie in betting after the Big Brown mare’s disappointing eighth in the RJ Peters.
To check out the full Railway Stakes betting markets for the weekend head to Ladbrokes.com.au today – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
