Trainer Chris Waller chases a second Group 1 Railway Stakes over 1600m at Ascot racecourse, Australia on Saturday.
Sydney’s champion trainer prepared Good Project to take out honours in 2015 Railway Stakes and on Saturday, five-year-old ROOTS aims to add to that tally. The Press Statement mare was last seen bouncing back to winning form, claiming the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes over 1400m with ease, drawing clear by over 2.5 lengths.
It was her second Group 2 success this year after winning the Emancipation Stakes over 1500m in March.
Waller believes ROOTS still has gas left in the tank after her spring campaign, not being overly taxed and having a three-week gap between runs. Waller’s Good Project won the Railway Stakes from barrier 11 and ROOTS will have to complete a similar task having drawn wide.
Boom filly the one to beat in the Guineas
Unbeaten filly KESHI BOOM will vie to extend her winning streak to five when she contests the $500,000 Group 2 WA Guineas over 1600m.
KESHI BOOM blasted onto the scene in a Two-Year-Old Maiden at Belmont July this year has not looked back since then. In four subsequent starts, KESHI BOOM has found none better while rising to the occasion each time she steps up in trip. Two starts ago, she claimed her first feature race with a dominant performance in the Listed Burgess Queens Stakes over 1400m before trying the mile in the Group 3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes and handling it easily with a big win.
Now proven at the Guineas trip unlike others, KESHI BOOM stands out as the one to beat. Her biggest danger, SUPER SMINK, has class on her side and is well in under set weights conditions on a rating of 90.
Roll the dice with Casino Seventeen
Quality stayer CASINO SEVENTEEN is on song to land the $125,000 Listed A.J. Schall Cup over 2100m.
CASINO SEVENTEEN gives the indication that he is reaching peak form at the right time after two solid runs this preparation. First-up in late October over the mile, he caught the eye with a fast-finishing effort into third place before going to pick up a sound fourth-place finish over 1800m in the Listed Luckygray Stakes, positioned midfield and letting down strongly to be beaten by under a length.
The rise to 2100m is a significant factor for CASINO SEVENTEEN’S chances this week, with the majority of his wins occurring over 2000m. He should gain the perfect run from barrier 3 under William Pike, from where he should be hard to hold out late.
