FESTIVAL OF PERTH RACING MOVES INTO FULL SWING ON SATURDAY

EAST meets west when the Festival of Perth Racing moves into full swing on Saturday (November 21) with the running of the $1 million Group 1 Carlton Draught Railway Stakes, 1600m, at Ascot.

Some of the big names of Australian racing, including leading trainers David Hayes, Gai Waterhouse and Tony Noonan, along with Melbourne Cup winning jockeys Corey Brown, Glen Boss and Blake Shinn will be competing.

Few will forget last year’s Perth carnival which saw the clash of two great equine idols, Takeover Target and Apache Cat, in the Winterbottom Stakes.

A new local star was unearthed in the last Railway Stakes when Gilded Venom conquered the finest field of milers ever seen at Ascot. The Hayes-trained Niconero used success in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes as a springboard to feature race wins on the east coast.

The Festival of Perth Racing kicked off last Saturday (November 14) when the star three-year-olds did battle in the $250,000 Group 2 Sky Channel WA Guineas, 1600m, which was won by the brilliant filly Clueless Angel.

That set the scene for the $1 million G1 Railway next Saturday (November 21), ) and $400,000 weight-for-age G2 Winterbottom Stakes, 1200m on November 28 and the culmination of the carnival with the biggest race day on the Perth racing calendar, highlighted by the $400,000 G2 BMW Perth Cup, 2400m, on January 1.

The West Australian newspaper in Perth provides a first class coverage of racing – both local and national. Here are some of the stories they have published in the lead-up to this weekend’s Railway Stakes meeting.

ORTENSIA THE LAUNCHING PAD FOR SATELLITE STABLE IN WA

VICTORIAN trainer Tony Noonan is looking to talented mare Ortensia to kick-start his new satellite stable in Perth.

The Mornington-based trainer, who spent two years looking for a suitable stable at Ascot, has secured 20 boxes in Mathieson Road. Noonan joins Aquanita Racing as Ascot's newest Victorian-based residents.

He is banking on Ortensia to give his venture a big start in the Railway Stakes. The star mare was joined on the trip west by stablemate Coconut Grove, which has West Australian owners and is likely to be Noonan's first permanent Perth-based horse.

Noonan gave Ortensia a light spring after campaigning during the winter in Queensland. He is hoping she performs well enough in Perth to secure an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to run at its Cathay Pacific International Day on December 13.

Craig Williams, who split from trainer David Hayes and had a relatively quiet spring in Melbourne, will ride Ortensia at Ascot.

BOSS TO RIDE LARGO LAD IN RAILWAY

COX Plate-winning jockey Glen Boss will join a galaxy of interstate star riders at Ascot on Saturday after picking up the ride on Largo Lad in the $1 million Railway Stakes.

Boss joins Sydney ace Corey Brown and Damien Oliver chasing the spoils in the west’s richest race.

Brown has been confirmed to ride the David Hayes-trained stablemate, All American, in the Railway. The Emirates Stakes winner has already been invited to run in the Hong Kong Mile.

Hayes, who has long enjoyed success at the Perth carnival, said All American would head to the Railway in better form than his stable star Niconero did last year before winning the Kingston Town Stakes. The young stallion may also tackle that 1800m race at Ascot on December 5.

“We set him for Perth and it’s the same money in Perth (as the Emirates) ... and gee whiz, it's hard to turn them out when they run like that,” Hayes said.

“Nico wasn't as good as this at that stage I don't think. This was a brilliant win, while Niconero got beaten. He’s had no luck all year, but he ran a brilliant time and he's been knocking on the door all spring.

“He got the runs he’s been trying to get, he’s a stallion and now he’s a Group One winner and an outstanding two-year-old who’s trained on at four. It's the biggest race he’s been in for a while. These colts are pretty hard to get in form so when they’re in form I think we should keep marching on.”

Oliver was booked by Mark Riley to ride Gold Salute at his sole Perth start in the Railway and the trainer is banking on winning the Group 1 to get an invitation to run in the Hong Kong Mile.

Gold Salute has been ridden by Mark Pegus at six of his last seven starts for three wins and three placings but Riley opted for local knowledge in booking West Australian-born Oliver, who is unbeaten in two rides on the horse including this year's Winter Championship Final, 1600m, at Flemington.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd will miss the ride on Sniper's Bullet in the Railway Stakes because of a more pressing engagement – his honeymoon.

Rodd, who married Cara Aspinall, the daughter of leading Queensland bookmaker Vince Aspinall, at the weekend, has left on a two-week honeymoon in Dubai, the Seychelles and Mauritius.

He rode Sniper's Bullet in the Railway Stakes last year when the six-year-old finished a close second to Gilded Venom. He was also on board him in the recent Emirates Stakes at Flemington when he ran fifth.

Rodd's racing manager Michael O'Brien said the leading hoop was not due to resume riding until December 5. Whether he gets to Perth on his first day back will depend on what Mark Kavanagh has running in Melbourne.

THE FESTIVAL OF PERTH RACING FOR 2009

Day 1 Ascot Summer Carnival	Saturday 21st November
	Carlton Draught Railway Stakes	Group 1	1600m	3YO+ Qlty Hcp	$1,000,000
	Placid Ark Stakes	Listed	1200m	3YO Qlty Hcp	$75,000
	Tattersall’s Cup	Listed	2200m	3YO+ Qlty Hcp	$75,000
	Carbine Club WA Stakes	Listed	1400m	3YO+ Hcp	$75,000
Day 2 Ascot Summer Carnival	Saturday 28th November
	Winterbottom Stakes	Group 2	1200m	SWFA	$500,000
	Aquanita Stakes	Listed	1800m	3YO Qlty Hcp	$100,000
	Jungle Dawn Classic	Listed	1400m	3YO+ F&M Qlty Hcp	$75,000
Day 3 Ascot Summer Carnival	Saturday 5th December
	Go For 2&5 Kingston Town Classic	Group 1	1800m	SWFA	$500,000
	Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic	Group 3	1400m	3YO SW	$125,000
	Queens Cup	Group 3	2400m	3YO+ Qlty Hcp	$100,000
	Saturday 12th December
	AJ Scahill Stakes	Group 3	1400m	SWFA	$125,000
	WA St Leger	Listed	2100m	3YO SW	$100,000
	Starstruck Classic	Listed	1600m	3YO+ F&M Qlty Hcp	$75,000
	Saturday 19th December
	C B Cox Stakes	Group 2	2100m	SWFA	$250,000
	Rs Crawford Stakes	Listed	1000m	3YO+ Qlty Hcp	$100,000
	Saturday 26th December
	La Trice Classic	Listed	1800m	3YO F&M Swp Hcp	$75,000
	Friday 1st January 2010
	BMW Perth Cup	Group 2	2400m	3YO+ Qlty Hcp	$400,000
	Schweppes Summer Scorcher	Listed	1000m	3YO+ Qlty Hcp	$100,000

 

PERTH RACING HAS A HISTORY DATING BACK OVER 150 YEARS

THE Western Australian Turf Club (now operating as Perth Racing) has had a proud history of hosting thoroughbred racing in the state for over 150 years.

It runs the two magnificent riverside racecourses of Ascot and Belmont Park, both situated only minutes from the city of Perth.

Perth Racing is responsible for the renowned Ascot Summer Racing Carnival highlighted by the G1 Carlton Draught Railway Stakes of $1,000,000, the G1 Go for 2&5 Kingston Town Classic of $500,000 and the G2 $400,000 BMW Perth Cup.

Cup day has grown into ‘Perth’s biggest party’ on New Year’s Day.

Perth Racing’s quality meetings are also known as a breeding ground for champions. Those have included: Northerly, Rogan Josh, Placid Ark and in more recent times the mighty Marasco.

Ascot is Headquarters for racing in Western Australia. Situated 8km east of the City Centre with the head office of the Western Australian Turf Club positioned directly opposite.

She is the grand old lady of Australian racecourses. Her committee buildings and grandstand look as majestic now as they did at the turn of the century when they were built.

Race-goers during the summer months enjoy picturesque gardens and magnificent facilities including:

• The Interstate and local Bookmakers Ring; an open sided pavilion running the length of the Main Tote;

• Nine superb alfresco dining and bar facilities;

• Two tiered restaurants: one on the public floor named The Terrace and one for members named Flying Colours. Both offer race-goers spectacular views of the track.

Ascot's 2,000m track is also attractive, modern and well drained with a 300m inclining straight regarded by experts as the toughest test of stayers in Australia.

Belmont Park Racecourse is Perth Racing's winter racecourse. It has a circumference of 1,699m with a 333m straight. The track is situated in a prime riverfront position, with the facilities nestled between the city and the water.

Belmont’s facilities are fully enclosed ensuring race-goers are warm and comfortable whilst enjoying spectacular views of first class thoroughbred racing against the river backdrop.

 

PHOTOS USED IN THIS ARTICLE COURTESY OF PERTH RACING AND NOEL PASCOE.