Tower Of Lonhro is currently available at lengthy 2015 Railway Stakes odds of $41, but trainer Adam Durrant believes that the veteran gelding will be at his peak for the Group 1 event at Ascot on Saturday.
Peter Hall (pictured riding Delicacy in the South Australian Derby) will partner Tower Of Lonhro in the 2015 Railway Stakes. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Tower Of Lonhro made his racing debut back in 2011 under the care of Jason Warren and he was sent to Perth in July of 2013, but he has been elevation in 2015 and gone to another level with Durrant as his trainer.
The son of Lonhro claimed the biggest win of his racing career when he took out the Listed Grandstand Cup (1500m) at Ascot on March 21 and he was only narrowly denied in both the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont Park on June 13 and the Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on June 27.
Tower Of Lonhro returned to the races with a flat effort behind stablemate Real Love in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 31, but he produced an improved effort to finish third in the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes (1500m) at the same venue on November 14.
Durrant told Sky Racing HQ that Tower Of Lonhro was unlucky not to finish closer to the winner in the RJ Peters Stakes and he believes that there are a number of factors in the favour of the seven-year-old ahead of the 2015 Railway Stakes.
“Tower Of Lonhro I have tried to map out, as well as I could, to his best way of racing,” Durrant said.
“He is actually unbeaten third-up, which he will be on Saturday and over the mile he has had six starts four wins and two placings.
“If you look at his run on Saturday he was very unlucky.
“The leader got away with a birthday in front, nothing tackled it and it sprinted hard and got that break on them, but he hit the line hard and finished third.
“He drops from 59 down to 53 and I certainly wouldn’t be discounting his claims – he has just continued to improve as he has got older this horse and he was quiet unlucky in his two runs prior to this preparation.
“This horse is more than capable on his day and I think that he is in the best nick he has been in.
“Hopefully we have timed his run to perfection.”
Delicacy ($4.20) remains a clear favourite in the 2015 Railway Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes from Black Heart Bart ($5), Real Love ($5), Good Project ($7.50), Hazzabeel ($9.50) and Messene ($13).
