The Wizard Of The West, William Pike, has selected Tuscan Queen over his Railway Stakes winner Regal Power as his mount in the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on December 7.
Damien Oliver, above, will ride Regal Power in the 2019 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Pike rode a cold race to bring Regal Power from the tail of the field mid-race to overhaul the leaders to score a scintillating win in the Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot last Saturday but has elected to ride his stablemate Tuscan Queen in the weight for age Kingston Town Classic.
Tuscan Queen has the lightweight of 50kg in the Kingston Town Classic and owner Bob Peters said that Pike made the decision to ride the lightly raced three year old filly instead of sticking with Regal Power.
“William has indicated that he wants to stay with the filly and we have made our bookings for the other horses,” Peters told RSN Central.
Peters will have four runners in the Kingston Town Classic with Damien Oliver taking over the reins on Regal Power, Chris Parnham to ride Mississippi Delta and Peter Hall has been booked to partner Star Exhibit.
Tuscan Queen has only been to the races on four occasions for three wins and a second, but Peters is still leaning towards the Fastnet Rock filly as his best chance in the weight for age contest.
“I think Tuscan Queen at this stage,” Peters said.
Tuscan Queen was an impressive winner for Pike in the Group 3 $200,000 WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 16 but will find the opposition much tougher when she steps up to Group 1 company for the first time in the Kingston Town Classic.
Pike’s decision to stick with Tuscan Queen over Regal Power has prompted the bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au to place her at the top of the market order at $4 ahead of her stablemate at $7 with the James Cummings trained Railway Stakes runner up Best Of Days on the third line of betting at $8.
Early betting for the 2019 Kingston Town Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Tuscan Queen, $7 Regal Power, $8 Best Of Days, $10 Pacodali, $12 Gailo Chop, Kay Cee, Star Exhibit, Superstorm, Tally, $14 Mississippi Delta, $15 Gatting, $19 Samizdat, Tellem We’re Comin, $21 Dig Deep, $26 Achernar Star, Jericho Missile, Perfect Jewel, Platoon, Reykjavik, $31 The Velvet King, $34 Arcadia Prince, Ringerdingding, $51 or better the rest.
