Trainer Fred Kersley is hoping his up and coming galloper Lite’n In My Veins can emulate the deeds of the great Northerly in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Rageese, above, is one of the main chances in the Railway Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Kersley prepared Northerly to win the 2000 Railway Stakes before going on to become an Australian racing legend with two Cox Plate wins and a Caulfield Cup win among his haul of Group 1 races.
Lite’n In My Veins will carry the same colours as Northerly but Kersley is yet to compare the four year old to his dual Cox Plate winner but with some luck in running he is giving him a good chance in a very open Railway Stakes with his lightweight.
“This horse is not quite as good as Northerly in my view but still could play a part,” Kersley told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“Some similarities, Northerly went into the Railway with only about four runs under his belt and he climbed to the top pretty quick and he was good enough to carry on.”
“It is a very very open race with some good strong contenders, one from New Zealand, a few from the East states that we don’t know that much about but we allow that they are going to give a good account of themselves.”
“And the local horses are fairly strong, Bob Peters’ horses in particular. Perfect Reflection in my opinion is the better up and coming horse in the last few years here in Western Australia.”
“And of course Lite’n In My Veins is one of the players in what I consider to be a very very tough race.”
Ironically Lite’n In My Veins was able to win the race named after Northerly and carry the famous yellow and black colours to victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 15 before running fifth to Perfect Reflection in the Group 2 $250,000 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 5.
“That was a great thrill for me in as much as the old horse Northerly with the race named after him, and then to bring along a younger horse good enough to win that race, I was proud of that,” Kersley said.
Kersley describes Lite’n In My Veins as a very good up and coming four year old who could be in the mix in the Railway Stakes if Steven Parnham is able to get plenty of breaks during the race.
“He is an up and coming horse and at this stage he is lightly raced but has done a very good job I his few starts,” Kersley said.
“I don’t think there is one that is the hardest to beat. I think it is a tricky race as much as a big field.”
“Ascot can be a tricky track. I think luck in running will play a big part in it, I think the handicaps will play a big part in it.”
“Half the field could win and I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Lite’n In My Veins has drawn barrier nine in the original draw but will move in one gate if all three emergencies fail to gain start when the field is reduced to the capacity field size of sixteen.
Railway Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Lite’n In My Veins at the good odds of $17 while Perfect Reflection heads the market order at $5.50.
The Chris Waller trained Mackintosh is next in the betting at $6.50 ahead of Darren Weir’s Rageese at $7.50 and the well supported local galloper Tradesman at $7.50.
