The 2014 Kingston Town Classic field has been released and a capacity field of 16 horses as well as four emergencies have been included in the acceptances for the Group 1 event that will be held at Ascot this weekend.
Pheidon has been included in the Kingston Town Classic field. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Elite Belle worked home strongly to win the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 22 and has the opportunity to become the first horse since Sniper’s Bullet in 2009 to complete the Railway Stakes/Kingston Town Classic double.
The Canny Lad mare will be partnered by Peter Hall in the Kingston Town Classic after Railway Stakes winner jockey William Pike elected to take the ride on talented three-year-old Disposition.
Balmont Girl stormed home late to finish second in the Railway Stakes and is sure to appreciate the step-up in trip after she took out the Group 3 Western Australian Oaks (2400m) earlier this year, while Chris Waller-trained Moriarty is also set to contest the Kingston Town Classic after finished extremely well in the Railway Stakes.
Group 1 winner Smokin’ Joey, Darren McAuliffe-trained Fuchsia Bandana, talented gelding Bass Strait, Grant Williams-trained Respondent, last year’s Kingston Town Classic winner Ihtsahymn, injury-plagued Chester Road and 2012 Kingston Town Classic winner Mr Moet have also been included in the 2014 Kingston Town Classic field after running in the Railway Stakes.
Three of the past seven editions of the Kingston Town Classic have been won by three-year-olds and both Disposition and Rommel have been given the opportunity to join Ihtsahymn (2013), Playing God (2010) and Megatic (2007) as recent three-year-olds winners of the Group 1 event.
Disposition started his racing career with four straight victories, including wins in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) and Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m), but was unable to run down Rommel in the Group 2 Western Australian Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on November 22.
Jockey William Pike has maintained his faith in Disposition and will partner the Reset gelding on Saturday despite having the chance to ride Railway Stakes winner Elite Belle.
Rommel was beaten by Disposition in both the Belgravia Stakes and Fairetha Stakes, but was able to turn-the-tables on his rival after tracking the speed in the early stages of the Western Australian Guineas.
Steven Parnham has ridden Rommel in all nine of his race starts and he retains the ride on the Commands colt, while Paul Harvey takes over the ride on Ihtsahymn in the Kingston Town Classic.
The Kingston Town Classic field is rounded out by Operational, Rebelson, Gai Waterhouse-trained Pheidon and Pop Culture, while Strike The Stars, Express Service, Red Blast and Real Love are the four emergencies.
