Champion Victorian-based hoop Craig Williams will vie for a third win in one of Perth’s feature summer showdowns aboard He Or She in Saturday’s Railway Stakes 2016 field at Ascot Racecourse.
He Or She returns to Perth in the 2016 Railway Stakes at Ascot Racecourse with Craig Williams in the saddle this Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Kicking off the elite level racing action of the Perth Summer Racing Carnival, this weekend the $1 million Group 1 James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) takes centre stage.
There are twenty-four remaining entries from the original 84 Railway Stakes nominations including the Lindsay Park-trained He Or She.
A six-year-old son of Kendal Star, He Or She was formerly trained in WA by still part-owner Vaughn Sigley and has an outstanding record of six wins and a third from eight starts at the Ascot track.
He hasn’t raced there however since January of 2015 and currently pays $11 in pre-field Railway Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to win his returning run in Perth this weekend.
The $1 million Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 3 is also on the cards for He Or She in WA this summer.
He chases his first win since the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington back in March, but he has been in strong form since and co-trainer David Hayes said he was “bright and well”.
“He’s had a month off and seems really bright and well,” Hayes told the media this week.
“We’ve always had Perth in mind and to have him peaking for these two races.
“He’s 50 per cent owned over there and has a good record at Ascot so he’s the logical horse to take over.”
Over the spring the horse enjoyed a trio of Group 1 placings, most recently a third to Winx in the Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in October.
His last start on Cox Plate Day was a fifth of six runners behind The United States in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m).
He’ll be out to atone for that run, where he dropped back notably in distance, and reunites with Williams.
Williams rode the galloper for the trio of Group 1 top three runs before Dwayne Dunn had the Crystal Mile ride.
It is shaping up as a huge weekend for Williams who, after chasing his third Railway Stakes winning ride, heads abroad for a ride in the Singapore Gold Cup.
Last year Williams rode Good Project to victory in the Railway Stakes for Chris Waller, his other successful ride in the race being on the John Thompson-trained Gathering in 2010.
“It’s been a good race to me,” Williams told Racenet.
The all-in Railway Stakes odds are currently led by the Chris Waller-trained Mackintosh ($5), Group 1 winning Perth local Perfect Reflection ($6) and the Darren Weir-trained Rageese ($7).
The 2016 Railway Stakes field and barriers are set for release on Wednesday, futures betting open on the nominated horses now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
