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Barrier Concern For Railway Stakes Favourite

3 minute read

Perth’s leading owner Bob Peters fears an inside barrier could be the undoing of his mare Galaxy Star, favourite for Saturday’s $1 million Railway Stakes at Ascot.

Galaxy Star leads a team of four Peters-owned runners in the Railway Stakes, a race he and his wife Sandra have previously won twice with Old Comrade (2001) and Elite Belle (2014).

Their familiar cerise and white silks will also be carried in the Railway Stakes by Action, Perfect Jewel and Star Exhibit but Peters has no doubt Galaxy Star is the horse to beat, providing the breaks go her way from gate 2.

Peters says the Railway Stakes is the hardest G1 race to win in Perth and is worried Galaxy Star will be caught in traffic back in the field.

"The barrier does worry me because she's not an on pace sort of mare and could get caught up on the rail,” Peters said.

“There's no doubt it’s the hardest race to win. It takes a good horse because it’s always hard run and it's a handicap.

"All sorts of things can happen in a race like that. You need a bit of luck to go your way."

Over the last 25 years Bob and Sandra Peters have won every major race in Perth multiple times including seven Perth Cups, eight WA Derbys, nine WA Oaks and the Kingston Town Classic four times.

Galaxy Star is a lightly-raced 6YO mare who did not start racing until she was a 4YO. She is at the peak of her form, having won nine of her 12 starts and coming into the Railway Stakes off a hollow win in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes at Ascot.

Grant and Alana Williams train Galaxy Star, Action and Perfect Jewel for the Peters while Adam Durrant prepares their fourth runner Star Exhibit.

Galaxy Star, to be ridden by Perth’s champion jockey William Pike is carrying the limit weight of 53kg in the Railway Stakes. Significantly six of the past seven winners of the race have carried 53.5kg or less.

Action gave the Peters their eighth WA Derby win earlier this year. He finished second to Galaxy Star in the Asian Beau Stakes but disappointed in his final lead-up when fifth in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes, a race named after his owner, at Ascot last Saturday.

Perfect Jewel won the WA Guineas on the Railway Stakes program 12 months ago as a 3YO while her older brother Star Exhibit won the 2016 Perth Cup and is using the Railway as a lead-up to another crack at that race on January 1.

The racing and breeding interests of Bob and Sandra Peters extend to hundreds of horses with more than 50 mares located at stud farms around Australia and New Zealand.

Saturday’s Ascot fields reflect the extent of their local racing commitment as they own 18 acceptors for the meeting.


Racing and Sports

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