Sydney-sider duo lead Railway Stakes betting ahead of $1.5 million Ascot clash this Saturday

The second, and arguably the most important, day of the Pinnacles carnival arrives on Saturday at Ascot with a smorgasbord of racing headlined by the Group 1 $1.5 million Swan Draught Railway Stakes (1600m). Soon after the barrier draw, Sydneysider Light Infantry Man was supported into favouritism with TABtouch after coming up with gate two. The six-year-old was ridden to victory by visiting champion hoop James McDonald last time when scorching away for a two-and-a-quarter length success in the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington during Cup week over this distance. Prior to that, when ridden by Blake Shinn, the gelding was badly hampered and unlucky in the high-class Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley. He’s now settled as the $4.60 favourite but must resist the weight of support that has arrived for fellow raider Belclare to retain his title as market leader. $7.50 was bet about the seven-year-old mare (the age and sex bracket currently belonging to stars such as Via Sistina and Pride Of Jenni) but she has been crunched into $4.80 second favouritism. The bold front-runner has exhibited plenty of dash when taking out back-to-back Group 2 wins over 1400m at Randwick and Rosehill at her last two, including her most recent length-and-a-quarter effort in the Hot Danish. Top-weights generally have a poor record in the Railway, with dual race champion Luckygray the only horse in the last 15 years to carry more than 53.5kg when landing the 2013 edition. Belclare will lug 57.5kg and must overcome gate 14 but will have the services of powerful NSW jockey Nash Rawiller to pump her over the line. Zipaway ($8.50) is the most highly rated of the local hopes, with rider Steve Parnham and trainer-father Neville looking to repeat last year’s heroics after winning the event in 2023 with Bustler. Zipaway was caught in poor going but still finished strongly to snatch fourth in key lead-up contest the Lee Steere Classic with Parnham electing to ride Bustler on that occasion. However, under handicap conditions and with Zipaway dropping a mammoth 6kg from that effort, Parnham’s mind was swayed and he will partner the Playing God four-year-old from gate 12. Bustler ($19) has been somewhat forgotten this year and will be ridden by Jarrad Noske at 56kg. His close-up second in the Lee Steere behind Casino Seventeen was a pleasing pipe-opener and trainer Neville Parnham suggests that his horse is better than last year, though he will now need to be. Only one horse, Tudor Mak in 1966 and 1967, has been able to come back just a year later and recapture his crown in the race, meaning Bustler will have to belie history to win WA’s premier race. Dan Morton will be out for a maiden win in the event, though he is no stranger to success at the elite level. He trains Super Smink ($11), a mare in the wilderness for much of her three-year-old season that has rebounded to her best self through the early part of her four-year-old year. Two eye-catching placings in the Black Heart Bart and Eurythmic Stakes over 1200m and 1400m were supplemented by a dashing triumph in the Asian Beau Stakes, also over 1400m, three weeks ago. However, her chances were cruelled when barrier 18 was the only gate left after 19 others had taken their glass at Tuesday’s draw. The youngest Parnham sibling, Chris, will be out to emulate the deeds of his oldest brother by partnering the Super One mare. Grant and Alana Williams have established themselves as an incontrovertible, unstoppable powerhouse of WA training, particularly over the last 12 months. After a business restructure in the years preceding, the team have emerged to their former glories which have seen them claim this race five times, including a four-year undisputed run between 2018 and 2021. All of those horses have carried lightweights of no more than 53.5kg, facing the team with a different task this year when taking Casino Seventeen ($15) to the races. The seven-year-old gelding bludged around Lark Hill trials with disinterest on two occasions prior to his first-up run in the Lee Steere in an effort that provided the perfect juxtaposition to his warm-up efforts. With the blinkers on, the son of Casino Prince dazzled his supporters by steaming from near-last to get up to grab victory in the dying strides. Such spirited acceleration for a horse that had previously won a Perth Cup over 2400m was surprising, emphasising how well the millionaire horse is travelling this preparation. All of the Williams’ five winners have been partnered by William Pike, who will again be in the saddle this Saturday aboard Casino Seventeen. Port Lockroy ($16) ran sixth in both the Silver and Golden Eagles at Randwick and Rosehill, beaten just over two lengths on both occasion. The stallion will be ridden by leading local hoop Clint Johnston-Porter, while ex-West Aussie Mark Zahra returns to steer Democracy Manifest ($17), who has been abandoned by punters after a lameness scare and drawing gate 19. June’s Queensland Oaks winner Socks Nation ($18) is the last of the invading brigade for visiting jock Declan Bates, ahead of 2022 Railway winner Trix Of The Trade ($21). The last of the Parnham brothers, Brad, will seek his first Group 1 victory aboard long-time supporter and trainer Stephen Miller’s gelding Magnificent Andy ($26). 35 minutes earlier, Parnham will ride WA Guineas favourite September Born ($2.50) in a bid to further surge the three-year-old into Northerly Stakes calculations.