Railway Stakes Tips & Preview 2023
Looking for Railway Stakes tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 Railway Stakes at Ascot.
RAILWAY STAKES BETTING SNAPSHOT
It is the Victorian galloper, Tuvalu, that has been installed as a $4.60 joint favourite with the local hope, Alsephina, while the Sydney mare, Roots, is at $4.80.
There are 16 contenders in action as well as three emergencies looking to sneak into the field and Bustler is a $10 shot, while Karli’s Karma has been installed at $11. Forgot You ($15), Marocchino ($16), Dom To Shoot ($17) head the likes of Comfort Me, The Velvet Queen and Casino Seventeen, with that trio at $23.
RAILWAY STAKES FORM ANALYSIS
Tuvalu last stepped out on Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley and went down in narrow fashion behind Prowess and Antino over the 1600m in the Crystal Mile. He appeared to have his chance but that form looks solid for this and he was runner-up behind Alligator Blood at Group 1 level prior to that in the Underwood Stakes (1800m).
The Lindsey Smith-trained galloper went 11.3 lengths faster than standard benchmark at the Valley, which is the second best last start figure of any runner. He went 14.6 lengths faster than standard in the Underwood, which is a better figure than what any horse in this race has set in the past two years.
Dom To Shoot comes in with the best last start benchmark figure of any runner, having gone 11.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark when runner-up in the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot a fortnight ago.
Nine runners had their last start in that race, including Comfort Me (3rd), Massimo (4th), Bustler (5th), The Velvet Queen (6th) and Marocchino (7th). Notable runs came from Comfort Me, who was held up before producing the fastest last 200m, while The Velvet Queen also closed off well late. Comfort Me was held up.
Marocchino led and faded late. He was on the back up after defeating Alsephina at his start prior. He is 2kg worse off for that run in the Asian Beau Stakes (1400m). Alsephina was first up that day and has since closed off well to fill the exacta behind Mojo Rhythm in the RJ Peters Stakes (1500m). She went just 3.3 lengths faster than standard and might need to produce a personal best. But the Grant & Alana Williams-trained galloper drops 6kg and gets the steer from Willie Pike.
Roots comes down with some solid form in Sydney and dominated her rivals in the Group 2 Hot Danish (1400m) at Rosehill on November 11 to win by three lengths from Call Di. The Chris Waller-trained mare went a healthy 9.9 lengths faster than standard that day.
Forgot You is another interstate contender, going 7.2 lengths faster than standard to win over the 1800m ahead of Warning on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington.
RAILWAY STAKES TIPS AND BEST BETS
Alsephina has a sense of timing about her and although she will need to produce a personal best to take this out, it is hard to ignore her record of nine wins from 13 career starts. The lightly raced five-year-old comes into this third up and should be ready to peak. Record over the 1600m is three wins from as many starts with two of those coming at Ascot. Willie Pike obviously knows how to win a big race at Ascot and should position her nicely from barrier 7. I wouldn’t mind having something each-way on Marocchino as well. The Lou Luciani-trained galloper defeated Alsephina two starts ago over the 1400m at a big price then backed up the following week and faded late in the piece to run 7th. He went too hard out in front before just firing late that day. The seven-year-old has some solid form over the 1600m and just needs to find a spot early on from the wide gate with Chris Parnham on board to be a cheeky contender.