An impressive field of milers has been confirmed for Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot and there is plenty of value to be found in betting for the feature race.
Consistent local Galaxy Star has returned to the races in smart form this time and has opened the $3.30 favourite in 2018 Railway Stakes betting.
Galaxy Star is incredibly yet to finish worse than second through her twelve career starts to date and resumed this-time for a close-up second in the Group 3 Northerly Stales (1400m) on November 3rd before a dominant win in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) last time out.
The step up to a mile is ideal and she should only improve third-up. In the Bob Peters silk, with the Grant & Alana Williams polish and with William Pike in the saddle, Galaxy Star has the making of a Group 1 winner.
Peaceful State will have his first run in the nation’s west and could prove the value in 2018 Railway Stakes betting at $4.80.
The Animal Kingdom entire has produced several outstanding performances and results for master trainer Darren Weir this year and should enjoy what looks to be a step back in class from some of his Spring Carnival targets.
Having finished second behind Grunt in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) most notably in autumn, Peaceful State recorded consecutive wins at black type level in Adelaide and returned this time for a close-up second behind subsequent Group 1 winner Land Of Plenty in the Listed Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
His run in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) was luckless, but he finished off well to place fifth in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) two starts back before an excellent run for third in the Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) on Derby Day.
He’s drawn beautifully in barrier 3 on Saturday and will be ridden by regular hoop Ben Allen, with only 53.5kgs in tow.
Interestingly only one other horse is currently available at 2018 Railway Stakes odds of less-than $10 and there is a genuine case to be made for the fellow Darren Weir-trained Iconoclasm ($9).
The Toorak Toff entire returned to winning form via a dominant performance in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in October and repeated that effort to win the Vobis Gold Star (1500m) on Cox Plate Day.
He was last seen finishing a credible eighth in the Kennedy Mile and is another horse that will enjoy this step back in class.
Other east coast entrants Prized Icon ($15) and Mister Sea Wolf ($14) both represent value in Railway Stakes betting, while there’s a case to be made for several locals including the resuming Material Man ($13), last-start winner Gatting ($12) and the ultra-consistent Achernar Star ($17).