| What | 2023 Railway Stakes |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, November 25, 2023 |
| Prizemoney | $1,500,000 |
| Distance | 1600m |
| Conditions | Handicap |
| 2022 winner | Trix Of The Trade (6) | T: Colin Webster | J: Troy Turner (53kg) |
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Visit Dabble |
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The 137th edition of the Railway Stakes will headline the meeting at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday afternoon, with a full field of 16 runners expected to take their place in the $1.5 million contest over 1600m.
As there are only two Group 1 winners in the field, it is more than likely one of the runners will break through for their maiden Group 1 success on Saturday.
Trix Of The Trade will be seeking to become only the second horse to win back-to-back Railways and the third horse to win multiple editions of the race. Meanwhile, Tuvalu will be seeking his second Group 1 victory, coming off the back of a very consistent Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.
2023 Railway Stakes odds
Roots from the Chris Waller yard holds favouritism at +300 after a dominant win in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes last start. Alsephina sits on the second line of betting at +350 after consecutive runner-up finishes in Group 3 company. Rounding out the runners in single figures is the Lindsey Smith-trained Tuvalu at +400. Bustler (+1000), Forgot You (+1200) and Karlis Karma (+1300) all represent great value as lightweight chances.
Railway Stakes 2023 speed map
The form may be hard to match up in the 2023 Railway Stakes, but the speed map is a lot clearer, as the likes of Tuvalu, Marocchino, Massimo and Comfort Me appear to be the likely top four upon settling. From inside barriers, Bustler and Searchin’ Roc’s can settle much closer to the leading quarter, while Roots, Trix Of The Trade, Forgot You and Alsephina are likely to settle toward the rear of the field from middle to outside gates. With the rail in the +6m position, we expect the track to play favourably to on-speed runners, which should make it very hard for backmarkers to make up ground around the home turn and into the straight.
Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Railway Stakes.
2023 Railway Stakes preview & form
Out of the last 64 editions of the Railway Stakes, 27 have been won by four-year-old horses, so with that in mind, we have Bustler on top. The Neville Parnham-trained gelding has been good without being outstanding this preparation, finishing seventh in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes and fifth in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes. This son of Playing God will drop 6kg for this start and will be seeking to keep his undefeated third-up record intact (2:2-0-0). From barrier two, Steven Parnham can settle behind the speed and get all the favours in the running, and with clear air, he will prove very hard to hold out.
Although Comfort Me is yet to claim a Group 1, the Rhys Radford-trained galloper has been very consistent when stepping up to the top level, and his form in the Railway Stakes is as good as any. The son of Playing God has finished second in each of his previous two starts in this race, both after pushing forward from a wide barrier. Again, the barrier draw has not been kind to this gelding, as gate 18 means he will have to go forward once more. However, if the race does suit on-speed runners and he can settle in the one-one position, he could be be massive overs with online bookmakers.
Tuvalu is one of the two Group 1 winners in the field, and with his jump-and-run tactics, he can put himself right into contention from a very nice draw in gate four. After finishing in the placings in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes, Group 1 Underwood Stakes and Group 2 Crystal Mile, there is no doubt this son of Kermadec brings the best form into the race. However, he would have to rewrite history to win with 59kg, as Luckygray holds the record after carrying 58kg to victory in 2013.
Alsephina was the favourite for the Railway Stakes before the barrier draw but has since drifted after landing in gate seven. In her two starts this preparation, the daughter of Star Turn has recorded consecutive second-place finishes in Group 3 company, going down as the race favourite both times. The main worry for this talented mare is that she will most likely settle worse than midfield and will have to run down rivals that settle ahead of her.
2023 Railway Stakes selections & best bets
8
BUSTLER
3
COMFORT ME
1
TUVALU
7
ALSEPHINA
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $60 win | Bustler (#8) @ +1000 with Betfair |
| $20 each way | Comfort Me (#3) @ +2000 & +500 with Dabble |
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