Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
G1 Railway S. - Perth horses defending their titles
Despite its long history this race first run in 1887 has only twice been won by the same horse twice; Tudor Mak back in 1966 and 1967 and Luckygray (Bradbury's Luck) in 2011 and 2013.
And this year there are two horses attempting that feat with Bustler (Playing God) and Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair {GB}) taking out the last two runnings.
Trix Of The Trade had a crack at two in a row by lining up last year, finishing on the heels of the placegetters despite having no luck in running. He and Bustler are joined by Mojo Rhythm (Playing God), Comfort Me (Playing God) and Searchin' Roc's (Awesome Rock) as 2023 runners back in action.
The first two of those ran really well last year and all three have solid recent form to their names, especially Mojo Rhythm who was too good in the G3 R.J Peters S. last time out.
Gallery: Two horses attempting to win the G1 Railway S. for a second time, images courtesy of Western Racepix
Other horses are however more strongly fancied including Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}), the Ciaron Maher-trained import who looked to have plenty in hand when winning the Listed Sir Chester Manifold S. at Flemington and his stablemate Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}), the G1 Queensland Oaks winner who ran such a great race behind Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Empire Rose S.
Also over from the east are Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who has won her last two in strong company in Sydney, Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) who comes off a luckless G3 Craven Plate third and Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) who was doing his best work late in the Silver Eagle and the Golden Eagle.
However, the locals have a great record in this race (interstaters not successful since 2015) and there are a number of in-form gallopers including the already mentioned Bustler who was so strong to the line when second in the G2 Lee Steere S., Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) who won that race and Magnificent Andy (Magnus) who was third.
As well as the last-start G3 Asian Beau S. winner Super Smink, the Listed Luckygray S. winner Diamond Scene (So You Think {NZ}) and the consistent Zipaway (Playing God) who ran some nice races in Melbourne earlier in the year. He is one of the four runners for his sire (including Bustler) in the race.
G2 WA Guineas - another one for Parnham?
The race won two years ago by Amelia's Jewel and last year by Zipaway who has Group 1 aspirations on Saturday, sees a stablemate to the latter open favourite; the promising September Born (Playing God) who has looked good winning two of his first three starts.
His trainer Neville Parnham boasts an excellent record in this race, also successful in 2019 with War Saint (War Chant {USA}), in 2014 with Rommel, in 2010 with September Born's sire Playing God and in 2001 with Royal Retrieve (Royal Abjar {USA}).
Neville Parnham | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Grant and Alana Williams also know how to win the 1600-metre contest, cheering on three of the last seven winners; Treasured Star (Toronado {Ire}) in 2021, Arcadia Queen (Pierro) in 2018 and Perfect Jewel (Redoute's Choice) in 2017.
And they have this year's second favourite Storyville (Overshare) who really charged to the line when taking out the G3 Champion Fillies S. Fillies have a good recent record in this race and she looks a big chance to add to that. And to go one better than her half-brother Kay Cee (Playing God) who ran second his stablemate War Saint in this race five years ago.
Olympic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is a threat having recorded strong victories at his first two starts before measuring up in good company with a Listed third behind September Born last time out. And second in that race was Exceed The Planet (Exceedance) who let down nicely over the final stages.
Patron Express (Patronize) was also good to the line when fourth in that race whilst the promising fillies London's Image (Headwater), Ron's Finalflutter (Written Tycoon) and Flower Of Gold (Bull Point) come through different races.
G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders S. - a good race for the girls
A 1400-metre weight-for-age contest for fillies and mares, this event held at Pukekohe Park has some very nice horses on its honour roll. A number its winners went into the race as Group 1 winners whilst six have gone on to enjoy success at that level, most notably the mighty Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) who won this in 1999 and 2000.
Other notable winners include La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen {GB}), Lycra (NZ) (Tights {USA}), Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad) and Gaze (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and it has also proven a nice breeding ground for future broodmares.
Sunline (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
First run in 1970, it has been won on 13 occasions by mares who have gone on to produce stakes winners with three being Group 1 producers; Bellota (NZ) (Oakville {GB}) the dam of the controversial G1 Perth Cup winner Rocket Racer (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}) and the G1 AJC Oaks winner Starzaan (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), Grey Invader (NZ) (Brilliant Invader) producing the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas and G1 Thorndon Mile winner Pace Invader (NZ) (Westminster {NZ}) and Fun On The Run (NZ) (Racing Is Fun {USA}) the triple Group 1-winning sprinter/miler Tall Poppy (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}).
Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) attempts to become only the third mare, and the first since Sunline, to win this race twice.
A Group 2 winner in Melbourne last summer, she heads to the race in as good as if not better form than she was last year when she defeated Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) who is also having a second crack at the race.
La Crique (NZ), the current favourite for the G2 Auckland Thorougbred Breeders' S. | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
They have some worthy rivals including the favourite La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) who ran so well first-up and Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) who has done a good job winning four of her 11 starts.
Listed Cranbourne Cup - a race for the locals?
Country Cup season is in full swing in Victoria and one of the big ones is the Listed $500,000 Cranbourne Cup. One of the first races of its kind granted black-type status when the Pattern system came into being in the 1970s, it has been won by a number of talented gallopers.
Such as Noble Comment (Scarletville {Ire}) who a month later ran second to Kiwi (NZ) (Blarney Kiss {USA}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup, On A Jeune (Jeune {GB}) who was runner-up in the following year's Melbourne Cup won by Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), Brave Chief (Hula Chief {NZ}) who five weeks later won the G2 Sandown Classic, Lisa's Game (Umatilla {NZ}) who 10 days later ran second in the G1 Caulfield Cup and a couple of horses who went onto Group 1 success - Bush Padre (Redding {NZ}) and Mourinho (Oratorio {Ire}).
As you can tell from that list of horses, the race used to be run before the major races but it has found a niche position at the end of the spring carnival with big attendances and full fields.
Four of those have contested Group 1 races this spring including the G1 Memsie S. winner Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) who has earned his topweight of 61kg. Racing three times since his win over Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), he has not had the best of luck but from barrier two should get a good run.
It's A Wild Night (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
As a stakes race, the Cranbourne Cup has not been won by the same horse twice and that is a feat being tackled by the 2022 winner Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Big odds this time around, he started favourite on that occasion.
He is part of a good run of locally trained Cranbourne Cup winners and with that training complex expanding considerably in recent years the representation is always going to be strong.
As it is on Saturday with Pinstriped trained there as is It's A Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) who makes his Australian debut on the back of excellent New Zealand form, Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) whose two runs this time in have been full of merit and Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who went out a bit too hard in the Listed Seymour Cup.
The biggest Cranbourne trainer, Ciaron Maher (successful in 2019 with Dr Drill {GB} by Dansili {GB}) saddles up two runners; Nugget (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who drops in class having contested the G1 Champion S. and Running By (Impending) who comes off an easy Flemington win.
Listed Challenge S. - black-type action for the juveniles
Early black type is always well-valued so there will be plenty of people with their eye on the results of this 1100-metre contest at Pukekohe Park.
The field of eight represent a variety of stallions including two each for Snitzel and Lucky Vega (Ire).
It is a horse by the former who has opened up a short-priced favourite, the debutant Return To Conquer well-fancied on the back of three smart trial victories.
A $1.3 million Magic Millions graduate sold by Blue Gum Farm to Te Akau Racing, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained colt is a grandson of the dual Group 2 winner Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}).
Return To Conquer as a yearling, the current favourite for the Listed Challenge S. | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The other Snitzel is a stable mate who has already raced, the NZ$200,000 Karaka colt To Bravery Born (NZ) overcoming early trouble to record a soft win at Wanganui in late August. He has a number of speedy relations being a descendant of the record-breaking sprinter Special (Habituate {Ire}).
Also well in the market is the first of the Lucky Vega colts Vega For Luck, a NZ$60,000 Karaka yearling who was his Yulong-based sire's first winner when saluting at Tauranga in early October, since then running a nice third despite doing a bit wrong at Ellerslie.
Wide at debut before a fast-finishing third at his second go, the other Lucky Vega colt That's Gold was purchased at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $57,500.
Another in the market is the filly Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City), a NZ$130,000 Karaka Book 2 horse who ran on well when a game second at her Otaki debut.
Kembla Grange's big day - the Gong and the Warra
Kembla Grange hosts its Saturday standalone meeting this weekend with its feature events being the $1 million Gong and the $300,000 Warra.
The eighth race on the card, the Gong contested over 1600 metres is an open race with the in-form Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) from the family of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) opening favourite on the back of his smart on pace victory in the Big Dance.
Territory Express, the current favourite for the $1 million Gong | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The next two home in that race also line up; Vivy Air (Hellbent) and Suparazi (Super One.
There is Group 1 form in the race with Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) on the back of a G3 Angst S. victory finishing a close up sixth in the G1 Empire Rose S. whilst Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) was right in the thick of things when third in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. won by Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}).
The 1000-metre Warra is also an open race with Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) and Hedged (Capitalist) vying for favouritism. As a last-start winner the former has the fitness edge whilst the latter has won a Randwick trial in preparation for his return.
Iowna Merc, the current favourite for the Warra | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Frilled (Star Witness) was sound in Listed company at Flemington last time out whilst Iowna Merc (Winning Rupert) boasts good first-up form. The winner of five of his 12 starts, Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) still has plenty of upside as do Fleetwood (Encryption) and South Of India (Churchill {Ire}).
