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There was a sense of déjà vu for trainer Rhys Radford at Tuesday’s Railway Stakes barrier draw.
Comfort Me drew barrier 18, leaving Rhys Radford feeling deflated, but it's a position the young trainer knows only too well.
On face value it's a body blow, but if the emergencies come out Comfort Me jumps from gate 15 and jockey Peter Knuckey gets to work.
Comfort Me, one of the most consistent and honest horses going around in Perth, had barrier 15 in two cracking Railway attempts.
In 2021 the Playing God gelding ran second to Western Empire and 12-months ago he filled the same placing behind Trix Of The Trade.
"It is heartbreaking," Radford said on Tabradio.
"Without the emergencies he'll be jumping from barrier 15 for the third year in a row.
"But very happy with the horse and if we get some luck from the barrier we will be right in it."
Radford believes Comfort Me is in the same vein of form as he was a year ago ahead of the Railway.
First up in the Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) he finished a close third to Karli's Karma, who swamped late.
Last fortnight he ran another solid third behind Valour Road in the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m), beaten a length.
After carrying 59kg in the weight-for-age Lee Steere Stakes, Comfort Me drops to 54kg in the Railway Stakes.
"His two lead up runs have been good," Radford said.
"He's been a very consistent horse.
"He's ticking all the right boxes going into it.
"I think he is on a par to last year and certainly hasn't taken a backward step.
"Playing God's do get better as they get older.
"He's probably a little bit better than last year.
"But, it's pretty hard to get a line through him.
"He's been consistent for a long time now.
"He's won over a million dollars without winning a feature race.
"I don't know how you do that, but anyhow, he's found a way."
Tab touch has Comfort Me at $26. Alsephina the $4.40 favourite.
The Railway Stakes holds fond memories for Radford. Six years ago he was on top of the world when Great Shot scored a stunning all the way win at $31.
