The Group 1 action for the Perth Summer Racing Carnival explodes this Saturday as a top-class field of middle-distance stars descends upon Ascot for the $1.5 million Railway Stakes (1600m).
William Pike is out to extend his Railway Stakes record partnering Saturday’s favourite Watch Me Rock at Ascot. Photo: Steve Hart.
Headlining the elite mile contest is the iconic WA team of trainers Grant & Alana Williams, who are determined to extend their formidable record in the race with the strong favourite, Watch Me Rock.
Leading the charge in the latest Railway Stakes odds at Ladbrokes is the five-year-old Awesome Rock gelding, firming into $3.40 following a favourable draw in barrier four.
Adding immense confidence to punters is the booking of the legendary William Pike—the “Wizard of the West”—a five-time winner of the Railway, including an unprecedented four consecutive victories between 2018 and 2021.
Favourite’s Form and History
Watch Me Rock is a genuine Ascot track specialist, boasting an incredible eight wins from his 10 starts at the course.
He enters this Group 1 assignment on the back of a sharp second-up victory in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) on November 1.
Undefeated in his two previous mile assignments, he is a deserved top fancy and is out to become the first favourite to salute for punters since Trix Of The Trade in 2022.
Historically, the Williams stable combined with Pike to win with Elite Belle in 2014 and then again during Pike’s four-peat, proving this is the formula for success in the Railway.
The Veteran Stablemate’s Dual Quest
The main danger occupying the second line of Railway Stakes betting at $4.00 is the familiar Team Williams runner Western Empire.
The now eight-year-old warhorse is chasing a rare slice of history, aiming to become just the third horse ever to win the race more than once. Only Tudor Mak (1966-67) and Luckygray (2011 & 2013) have achieved the feat.
Western Empire, the 2021 champion, lines up for his eighth Group 1 on Saturday, but statistics are against the grand old galloper.
No horse older than six has won the race in over 25 years, and he faces a tough task carrying the 58kg top-weight second-up after a fifth-place finish (two lengths beaten) in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) on November 8.
Despite the challenges, he holds the rails draw (Barrier 1) with Billy Egan booked to ride.
Key Challengers and Value Threats
The winner of Western Empire’s lead-up race, Super Smink, is also a leading threat at $7.50.
The Daniel Morton trained Super One mare is aiming to be the first female champion since Inspirational Girl (2020) and is shooting for the Lee Steere Stakes – Railway Stakes double (last completed by Belle Bizarre in 2006).
Despite being fit third-up, her task was made harder by a blow at the draw, starting wide from gate 15 with Chris Parnham retaining the ride.
Interstate visitors swept the Perth Group 1s last season, and the leading raider this year is the Chris Waller trained Osipenko ($9.00).
The six-year-old Pierro gelding carries a light 55kg after carrying 62kg to victory in the Little Dance on Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney over 1600m at Randwick.
However, he also suffered a wide draw with gate 17 for jockey Tim Clark.
Betting remains tight, with the highly unlikely starter Cosmic Crusader (fourth emergency) also being kept safe at $6.50.
Value seekers should look to the Williams’ camp’s four-year-old mare Storyville ($16.00), who looked terrific winning the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes in her lead-up, and the ultra-consistent Diamond Scene ($15.00), a So You Think gelding who took out the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes last start, beating Watch Me Rock (3rd) in the process.
The 2025 Swan Draught Railway Stakes is set to jump as Ascot Race 9 at 4:58pm (AWST) / 7:58pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card.
2025 Railway Stakes Field & Barriers
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Empire | Billy Egan | Grant & Alana Williams | 1 | 58kg | 8 | G | 914×5 | $2,924,600 |
| 2 | Magnificent Andy | Brad Parnham | Stephen Miller | 10 | 57.5kg | 7 | G | 2×154 | $1,843,240 |
| 3 | Iowna Merc | Shaun McGruddy | Bjorn Baker | 9 | 56.5kg | 6 | G | 0x620 | $1,416,525 |
| 4 | Super Smink | Chris Parnham | Daniel Morton | 15 | 56kg | 5 | M | 79×31 | $1,496,530 |
| 5 | In Good Order | Shaun O’Donnell | Daniel Morton | 2 | 55kg | 5 | G | 317×2 | $454,205 |
| 6 | Osipenko | Tim Clark | Chris Waller | 17 | 55kg | 6 | G | x4301 | $1,850,575 |
| 7 | Comfort Me | Holly Watson | Rhys Radford | 6 | 54.5kg | 9 | G | 00×23 | $1,732,400 |
| 8 | Diamond Scene | Clint Johnston-Porter | Michael Grantham | 3 | 54.5kg | 6 | G | 212×1 | $681,583 |
| 9 | Bustler | Steven Parnham | Neville Parnham | 14 | 54kg | 6 | G | 89×07 | $1,645,750 |
| 10 | Let’s Galahvant | Natasha Faithfull | Daniel & Ben Pearce | 16 | 54kg | 7 | G | 020×0 | $864,160 |
| 11 | Sentimental Hero | Craig Newitt | Peter Fernie | 11 | 54kg | 8 | G | x5211 | $576,880 |
| 12 | Watch Me Rock | William Pike | Grant & Alana Williams | 4 | 54kg | 5 | G | 11×31 | $568,020 |
| 13 | Admiration Express | Lucy Fiore | Jason Miller | 8 | 53.5kg | 6 | M | 41×78 | $833,730 |
| 14 | Depth Of Character | Reece Jones | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 20 | 53.5kg | 4 | G | 03084 | $1,130,950 |
| 15 | Ginger Baker | Joey Azzopardi | Daniel & Ben Pearce | 18 | 53.5kg | 8 | G | 13146 | $656,605 |
| 16 | Storyville | Fred W Kersley | Grant & Alana Williams | 13 | 53kg | 4 | M | 2×661 | $634,690 |
| 17 | Hemlock Stone | Unknown | Grant & Alana Williams | 5 | 53.5kg | 6 | G | 07×80 | $779,290 |
| 18 | Yonga Lass | Unknown | Grant & Alana Williams | 12 | 53kg | 6 | M | 40×29 | $535,658 |
| 19 | Aztec Ruler | Unknown | Stefan Vahala | 19 | 53kg | 6 | G | 0x074 | $585,665 |
| 20 | Cosmic Crusader | Unknown | Michael Grantham | 7 | 53kg | 5 | G | x1133 | $309,180 |
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