Melbourne-based hoop Michael Walker is in W.A. this weekend facing a tough task from a wide barrier aboard one of three Chris Waller-trained chances in Perth’s Kingston Town Classic 2017 field, All Our Roads.

Jockey Michael Walker has work to do from a wide barrier aboard the Chris Waller-trained All Our Roads in the Kingston Town Classic 2017 on Saturday in WA. Photo: Taron Clarke.

All Our Roads suffered an early blow to his chances at an upset win in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Kingston Town Classic (1800m) drawing the second outside gate (14).

The Kiwi-bred son of Road To Rock comes into barrier 13 after two early scratchings from the line-up, but Walker admits it remains a huge challenge from the wide alley.

“I was hoping he would draw a barrier because I thought he was a top five chance,” Walker told Racing and Wagering Western Australia.

“I think he can be competitive, but things need to go right in a race for him.

“It’s going to be tricky from the barrier and I’m going to have to pull out a phenomenal ride.”

New Zealand expat All Our Roads is yet to win down under after four starts with Waller this spring – summer season, the six-year-old’s last victory being back across the Tasman over the mile in late March.

Two back at Flemington the horse proved his potential finishing only three lengths aback fourth to stablemate Shillelagh in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) with just 52kg on his back.

He rose a kilo for his W.A. debut a fortnight back and was far from disgraced again in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) finishing two and a half-lengths back ninth to the upset winner Great Shot after a tough run from barrier 14 of 16.

At weight-for-age on Saturday in the Kingston Town Classic, All Our Roads is up to 59kg and as such pays $26 in the latest odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on the final Group 1 of 2017 in Australia.

The Kingston Town Classic betting markets have Darren Weir’s five-time Group 1 winner and last start Railway Stakes runner Black Heart Bart as the one to beat at $2.90 and firming.

The James Cummings-trained Group 1 winner It’s Somewhat ($5.50) in his first run in Perth is the danger followed by local WA Guineas winning filly Perfect Jewel ($6).

Another of Waller’s two chances for the trainer to add a second Kingston Town Classic trophy to the cabinet following his success with Moriarty (2014) rounds out the single-figure hopes with Tom Melbourne at $8.

Damien Oliver, who rode Sniper’s Bullet to victory in the race back in 2009, is on the perennial runner-up whose last start produced a Railway Stakes third the same as Moriarty from three years ago.

European import Life Less Ordinary, to be ridden by Hong Kong hoop Douglas Whyte from gate five, is the third Waller runner and is paying $14.

Head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the weekend’s top racing odds and offers including the full range of Kingston Town Classic 2017 betting markets.