RAILWAY STAKES G1

RACE 9 - 1600m

IOWNA MERC / WATCH ME ROCK / STORYVILLE

The Bjorn Baker trained IOWNA MERC was scratched from the Hunter at Newcastle last week due to the wide draw, but travels much further from Sydney this week. The WINNING RUPERT gelding deserves a shot at glory after finishing 2nd in the Gr.3 Southern Cross and Gr.2 Expressway ahead of JOLIESTAR, then taking out the Gr.3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and Gr.2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. Settled towards the rear and checked off heels in the Doncaster, so stood no chance, but resumed with a strong finish 2nd-up to chase home ROTHFIRE in the Gr.3 Sydney Stakes. Flat on a Soft 7 in the Russell BALDING a total forgive, as a flat, hard cricket pitch in Perth will be right up his alley. Super talented and totally deserves a lucky break in WA.

☆☆☆☆

The AWESOME ROCK gelding WATCH ME ROCK has been awesome, and rock solid running in Western Australia through his three-year-old season until now. Won his maiden at Ascot in May 2024, then went on a spree, with victories at Northam and Belmont, before winning two more at Ascot before the year was out. Resumed with a 1200m victory there in Feb, before sprinting hard to take out the Grandstand Cup (1500m) and Comrade Stakes (1600m). Hit the line hard to win over 1800m in what was a highly successful prep for the team Williams trained gelding. After a six month spell he resumed with a 3rd in the Gr.3 Eurythmic Stakes after being held up thr majority of the straight, but rectified that by coming out to claim the Gr.3 Asian Beau (1400m) driving hard to the line. Sure to be in peak condition up to the mile and had the home town advantage, plus Willy Pike.

☆☆☆

Always had some time for the OVERSHARE mare STORYVILLE, who is also from the Williams barn. Ridden by William Pike, the mare scored her most significant win to date when grabbing the chocolates in the $500,000 Gr.2 3YO Guineas (1600m) last season, defeating THE MERRYMAN. That was after chasing home near the inside to claim the Gr.3 WA Fillies Stakes as she developed into a highly formidable competitior. Gave it a crack, but found the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes a bridge too far up against the older horses, before being turned out for a much needed spell. Finished 3rd at Bunbury, then won at Belmont Guineas at Pinjarra then returning with two reasonable runs finishing on, before a big effort to take out the Gr.3 RJ Peters (1500m) last weekend. Can go big again backing up in a Group 1.

☆☆

WA GUINEAS G2

RACE 8 - 1600m

KING OF LIGHT / ROCK FEST / HEZA PHOENIX

The three-year-old EARTHLIGHT gelding, KING OF LIGHT is the form horse after winning the last four in a row. Trained on the course by Daniel Morton, the gelding won as twice as a two-year-old in July at Pinjarra and Belmont, before returning in October. Peeled out six wide resuming here to arrive late and win the Belgarvia Stakes (1200m), then caught the leaders again stepping up to 1400m here twenty days ago. Will jump favourite and deserves his chance here as the best performed young galloper in the race.

☆☆☆☆

ROCK FEST could provide an encore performance as a horse with a fair bit of toe who has ran a couple of impressive races at Belmont before switching across heels late to finish 3rd to KING OF LIGHT in the Listed Belgarvia Stakes. The AWESOME ROCK gelding trained at Karnup blasted clear the final 225m to win over 1200m on debut, before going full bore to reel in the leaders over 1400m at Belmont. He is a full brother to G3 winner RED SUN SENSATION and a half to Stakes performer CHILI IS HOT, both out of the NZ bred FALTAAT mare, SOCIETY GAL. Goes fast, with a soft run definitely a threat.

☆☆☆

HEZA PHOENIX could be quite a talented GRUNT colt, but he is really up against it here and will need to find a few lenths to challenge this hot favourite. The Mitch Pateman trained galloper won over 1200m at Belmont in August before winning an Open 3YO event over 1400m there. Picked off in the final strides by KING OF LIGHT over 1400m at Ascot in the Fairetha Stakes, so can foot it with this good one, but up to the mile looks the real challenge. Can certainly hold on for a place.

☆☆

CARBINE CLUB OF WA STAKES (L)

RACE 6 - 1400m

AZTEC RULER / COSMIC CRUSADER / ASPHALT

A.J SCAHILL CUP HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 2100m

CAPTAIN PLUTO / SIMPLY / FLITHY HABITS