3 minute read

Many would consider Kingston Town to easily be in the top five all time greats of Australian racing.

It's only apt that his name adorn a G1 race after losing out to a sponsor for a few years. This WFA contest over 1800m has been won by some classic horses and was a regular western jaunt for leading Spring contenders in the 70s and 80s. Family of Man, Mighty Kingdom, Bounty Hawk, Vo Rogue, Better Loosen Up and the King himself won this at certain times. Let's try and pin point a winner.

• 2006 – NICONERO 5g (Danzero x Nicola Lass) ($6)

Jockey: Brad Rawiller, Trainer: David Hayes

Barrier: 9, Weight: 58.0kg

Gross Time: 1:47.47, 600m Sectional: 34.21

Margin: 2.5L, Track: Good, Starters: 15

2nd: Scenic Shot (57.5kg), 3rd: Daka's Gem (58.0kg)

Timeform Rating: 121

David Hayes had had an extremely consistent if not highly annoying Spring with the tall son of Danzero. He had been placed in G1 races such as the Toorak, Emirates & Railway without being able to knock that big one off. The run to Divine Madonna was excellent but he just needed that ounce of luck in a major. With stablemate Confectioner starting favourite, Hayes thought he had the race within his grasp as he also had Polar Bear and Purde running for good measure. Settling back beyond midfield, there was good enough pace up front to give the backmarker every chance to overcome those including Railway winner Belle Bizarre. He stormed home that quickly he won by 2.5L in super quick time. The win was Brad Rawiller's first G1 but hardly his last. Niconero became the first non WA trained horse to win the race since St Clemens Belle in '99.

• 2007 – MEGATIC 3g (Danetime x Mega Role) ($3 eq fav)

Jockey: Paul Harvey, Trainer: Albie Beckett

Barrier: 10, Weight: 52.0kg

Gross Time: 1:47.96, 600m Sectional: 35.45

Margin: 0.5L, Track: Good, Starters: 13

2nd: Guyno (58.5kg), 3rd: New Spice (58.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 114

This race has not been good to the 3yos in recent times. While they were completely dominant in late 70s - early 80s, the older brigade have taken over since. A win in the Belgravia and an utterly commanding WA Guineas over the mile saw him start equal favourite with Railway winner El Presidente. Paul Harvey was happy to have the 3yo that couple of lengths off the speed, in exactly the same spot he was in the Guineas. Getting 6.5kg off the older horses was a definite bonus over a field which in hindsight was of good quality. It's fair to say El Presidente didn't really stay the 1800 while the winner ran it out strongly. Having said that, his form since has all been over sprint journeys. Megatic's efforts in the '08 Spring have all been around the Railway Stks formlines including running under a length from Gilded Venom in the Asian Beau.

• 2008 – NICONERO 7g (Danzero x Nicola Lass) ($5 fav)

Jockey: Brad Rawiller, Trainer: David Hayes

Barrier: 14, Weight: 59.0kg

Gross Time: 1:46.90, 600m Sectional: 35.08

Margin: 1.8L, Track: Good, Starters: 16

2nd: Gilded Venom (59.0kg), 3rd: Sniper's Bullet (59.0kg)

Timeform Rating: 121

Back in 2006 Niconero was nice miler who David Hayes brought west following a great mile preparation with Emirates and Tooraks and Railways all in. But 12 months later not much was going right. It took to the start of the 2008 year for things to turn around with an unlucky Orr defeat then a Futurity Stks win. He even went to Dubai and ran OK in the Duty Free. Starting off slowly in the Spring, he didn't hit straps until the Emirates but thereafter he was white hot. His Railway run had be on me in the WFA race. He needs galloping room so drawing out wasn't a set back. Rawiller had him close enough on the turn whereby he sauntered up and past in a devastating performance. That was not enough for him as he came back east and won the Futurity again and an Australian Cup before another good Dubai run then a career ending leg injury pulled him up in the QEII Cup in Hong Kong.

• 2009 – SNIPER'S BULLET 6g (Bite The Bullet x Yallah Terrace) ($5.50)

Jockey: Damien Oliver, Trainer: Tracey Bartley

Barrier: 16, Weight: 59.0kg

Gross Time: 1:46.96, 600m Sectional: 36.06

Margin: 1.8L, Track: Good, Starters: 16

2nd: God Has Spoken (52.0kg), 3rd: Scenic Shot (59.0kg)

Timeform Rating: 121

This win was easier than the handicap run despite meeting some better horses. While Sniper's Railway win was well deserved, this was acclamation that he could handle weight and also class to score. With Nash Rawiller called back by Gai Waterhouse to ride some horses in Sydney, Damien Oliver took the saddle. But in reality nothing changed as he rode the gelding exactly the same. He worked to be outside the speed again and by the home turn was ready to pounce. If anything he took off before it was time to go but it simply took the weaker, out of form horses out of their comfort zones. In the end he held them all off rather easily. Comes as not surprise that he had another crack at the big Perth double again this year.

• 2010 – PLAYING GOD 3g (Blackfriars x Dolly Will Do) ($3 fav)

Jockey: Steven Parnham, Trainer: Neville Parnham

Barrier: 8, Weight: 52.0kg

Gross Time: 1:48.98, 600m Sectional: 35.22

Margin: 0.5L, Track: Good, Starters: 13

2nd: Impressive Jeuney (56.5kg), 3rd: Trusting (58.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 115

The 2010/11 season was not a good one for the 3yos in open company. It could have been because the 4yos were so strong or because the classic horses were not much chop. But this Perth youngster had the goods. The Parnhams hadn't had success in a big one but his lead up form was almost perfect. He won the WA Guineas and Aquanita Stks before tackling the older horses. Behind the speed he sat one by one. Steve Parnham didn't risk a pocket and pulled out at the 500m to get in front of the Eastern Staters. The local Impressive Jeuney gave a kick but couldn't withhold the son of Blackfriars. Later he would show that strength placing in the Australian Guineas and Cup before having a filly get him down late in the WA Derby.

RACE PROFILE

o Barriers have played little importance when considering this race.

o Mares have only won 3 times in 30 years.

o 6 x 3yos have won the last 24 Classics. 8 of the 11 before that were won by 3yos. A remarkable transformation.

o Niconero became the 4th horse to win two Classics – others being Family of Man, Summer Beau and Old Comrade.

o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner – 6yo (4 times)

o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <9-12> - 3 times

o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $10.20

o Breakdown of winners – 9 geldings & 1 entire

o Last 10 Years Railway Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – Sniper's Bullet ('09), Modem ('04), Old Comrade ('01)

o Last 10 Years Aquanita Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – Playing God ('10)

o Last 10 Years WA Guineas / Kingston Town Classic double – Playing God ('10), Megatic ('07)

o Last 10 Years CB Cox Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – Early Express ('05)

SUMMARY & SELECTIONS

For the final G1 of 2011, it isn't the greatest advertisement. Few you would say are good enough to regularly contest a major and only the Railway winner Luckygray and last year's winner Playing God have won one.

From this start, positions are critical as it is tricky so settling down will take some riding if drawn wide and wanting to go forward.

And out of the carnage of the Railway, working out who was rightly most affected or most injured is really a guessing game.

Having flukily tipped Luckygray in the G1 a fortnight back and ended up with a result, it might be fraught to do so again. Interesting decision wasn't it?

No doubt he is a really good horse with a fantastic record (7 from 9). Only issue might be will a Bradbury's Luck get the 1800m? His last start suggests he will. And the barrier is no help.

That said, we are going to use last year as a precedent with King Saul. 3yos have a good record in this race winning twice in the last five years and the others were won by previous G1 winners from the East Coast.

He was excellent coming from neat last in the WA Guineas and twelve months before this Playing God did a similar thing to win this race.

Craig Williams is a loss but don't think he was the only reason this youngster won.

We said Tranquility would run a big race in the Railway and while never a winning hope, the mare had to go back to last before weaving a passage and charging for fifth.

Like most others she was a margin back but her last win was over 1800m here last year in the La Trice Classic.

Selection: (14) KING SAUL

Hardest to Beat: (11) LUCKYGRAY

Best Roughie: (13) TRANQUILITY