The local Perth form more than held up on Saturday at Ascot Racecourse when the Lindsey Smith-trained Scales Of Justice recorded a commanding all-the-way win over Sydney raider Good Project in the Railway Stakes 2016.
Defending champion Good Project (pictured) ran second to local galloper Scales Of Justice in the 2016 Railway Stakes results. Photo: Steve Hart.
Last summer it was Chris Waller’s Not A Single Doubt stallion Good Project stealing the $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) trophy from the WA gallopers.
Twelve months on and the riches stayed at home with another son of the same sire, four-year-old Scales Of Justice ($9), combining with Hong Kong hoop Douglas Whyte for a nearly three length win in the mile feature.
Crossing in third to finish off the Railway Stakes trifecta was the beaten $4.60 favourite Perfect Reflection who is set to continue onto a title defence in the $1 million Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 3.
Scales Of Justice continued a stunning run of spring – summer form posting his third win on the trot and second in as many weeks having won the previous week’s Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes (1500m).
The Railway Stakes result saw the gelding enjoy his fourth win from six starts at Ascot and enjoy his second win from two starts at the 1600m.
Scales Of Justice handled the quick back-up and became the first horse to complete the RJ Peters – Railway Stakes double since El Presidente (2007).
In the RJ Peters, Scales Of Justice was ridden by Paul Harvey.
Harvey was replaced by Whyte however after Harvey was suspended, the champion jockey enjoying his second Group 1 win down under after his 2014 Kingston Town Classic success aboard Moriarty for Waller.
“It’s good to get another Group 1 in Western Australia,” Whyte told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“I was confident at the 1400 metres. Lindsey game me confidence and said if nothing else wants to lead, you lead.
“When I turned for home and pressed the button, he had a whole lot of engine there.”
Smith was thrilled with the all-the-way ride by Whyte.
“We got Douglas down here and he showed why he’s been champion jockey in Hong Kong so many times,” he said.
There’s a strong chance Smith and owner Chris Wells will decide to back-up in a fortnight’s time and tackle the 2016 Kingston Town Classic.
The last horse to complete the Railway Stakes – Kingston Town Classic double was Sniper’s Bullet (2009) and currently Scales Of Justice pays $6 to be the next in futures markets for the latter at Ladbrokes.com.au.
To back Scales Of Justice next race and access the best all-in Kingston Town Classic odds as well as those for this weekend’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth head to Ladbrokes.com.au now – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2016 Railway Stakes Results
Ascot Racecourse – 19/11/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | SCALES OF JUSTICE | Lindsey Smith | Douglas Whyte | – | 8 | 53kg | $9 |
| 2 | 5 | GOOD PROJECT | Chris Waller | J H Bowman | 2.75L | 7 | 55kg | $9 |
| 3 | 6 | PERFECT REFLECTION | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 3L | 2 | 54.5kg | $4.60 |
| 4 | 7 | MACKINTOSH (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver | 3.75L | 13 | 54kg | $5 |
| 5 | 16 | TRADESMAN | Robert & Todd Harvey | Troy Turner | 4L | 6 | 53kg | $6 |
| 6 | 1 | KAWI (NZ) | Allan Sharrock | Michael Walker | 4.25L | 3 | 58.5kg | $21 |
| 7 | 11 | HEART STARTER | Grant & Alana Williams | Chris Parnham | 4.25L | 1 | 53kg | $13 |
| 8 | 8 | LITE’N IN MY VEINS | Fred Kersley | Steven Parnham | 5.25L | 9 | 53.5kg | $7.50 |
| 9 | 4 | HE OR SHE | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Craig Williams | 5.5L | 12 | 55.5kg | $12 |
| 10 | 17e | ZARANTZ | Simon A Miller | Brad Parnham | 6.75L | 5 | 53kg | $61 |
| 11 | 2 | DISPOSITION | Grant & Alana Williams | Glenn Smith | 7L | 16 | 56kg | $20 |
| 12 | 13 | NEVERLAND | Grant & Alana Williams | Peter Hall | 8.25L | 10 | 53kg | $51 |
| 13 | 10 | BALMONT GIRL | Paula Wagg | Shaun O’Donnell | 10L | 11 | 53kg | $101 |
| 14 | 15 | TICK TICK BLOOM | G Durrant & J Miller | Jason Brown | 11.25L | 4 | 53kg | $91 |
| 15 | 3 | PORNICHET (FR) | Daniel Morton | Jarrad Noske | 11.75L | 15 | 56kg | $101 |
| 16 | 12 | IDEAL IMAGE | G Durrant & J Miller | Joseph Azzopardi | 14.5L | 14 | 53kg | $41 |
| – | 19e | SHOWY CHLOE | Jason Pateman | Patrick Carbery | – | 12 | – | – |
| – | 18e | GREAT SHOT | Rhys Radford | Craig Staples | – | 14 | – | – |
| – | 9 | RAGEESE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | – | 11 | – | – |
