KERSLEY RATES GRAND NIRVANA AND ELLIOTTO TOP HOMETOWN HOPES
PUNTERS throughout the country have plunged on the Victorian Gold Salute to end a decade-long drought for east coast raiders in the $1 million Carlton Draught Railway Stakes, 1600m, at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
The Mark Riley trained Gold Salute was the subject of strong support from the time betting opened on the Group 1 classic and has firmed from $4.20 to $3.20 favoritism with bets of $10,000 placed on the Testa Rossa six-year-old.
Gold Salute, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, comes off fast finishing efforts in two of the headline Group Ones during the Spring Carnival in Victoria. He finished a close second to Allez Wonder in the Toorak Handicap, 1600m, at Caulfield before a slashing third to All American in the Emirates at Flemington, also over the mile.All American, which broke a long drought to upstage Cox Plate winner, So You Think, in the Emirates, is second favorite for the Railway at $6.50 and Corey Brown has retained the ride on the David Hayes-trained runner.
Largo Lad, a stablemate of All American, was today (Friday) backed at good odds to score an upset win, firming from $26 to $19. He was doing his best work late when 10th in a Group 3 at Flemington first-up behind Centennial Park and will be ridden by Glen Boss.
Star Victorian mare, Ortensia, an unlucky second to Strawberry Field when Craig Williams go held up for a run at Flemington last start is chasing an invitation for a Hong Kong start next month. She has a wide alley and the mile to contend with.
Trainer Tony Noonan has not ruled out Ortensia backing up in the $500,000 G2 Winterbottom Stakes, 1200m, at Ascot on Saturday week. Connections have paid a late entry fee for the Victorian Lucky Secret to run in that race after breaking the Caulfield 1000m track record last month.
Champion West Australian trainer Fred Kersley, looking to continue the Railway domination of the locals over the past decade, could not be happier with Grand Nirvana. But Kersley thinks the Railway will be won by the horse that gets the best run and not necessarily the best horse.
He thinks the one to beat could be another Sandgroper in Elliotto, ($21 to $17), which relegated Grand Nirvana to a last start third in a major Railway lead-up, the G3 Peters over 1500m at Ascot last weekend.
Reigning Railway Stakes-winning jockey, Patrick Carbery, has labeled the trackwork this week of topweight Megatic has been the best of his career.
That has boosted trainer Albie Beckett's confidence for his second Railway win. He prepared Tudor Mak in the first of that galloper's two Railway victories in 1966.
“Paddy said it’s the best he’s worked in his life and better than when he was a three-year-old when he won the Belgravia, Guineas and Kingston Town,” Beckett told the West Australian.
In other moves on the features races in Perth tomorrow Proart has been backed from $6 to $4.50 in the Carbine Club of WA Stakes while Ma Chienne is an $8 to $6.50 shortener for Tattersall’s Cup.
