Achernar Star will revert back to racing on the pace after drawing the rails in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth.
Damien Oliver, above, will ride Trap For Fools in the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Simon Miller trained Achernar Star was seen racing in the first three in his first three runs this campaign but tactics were switched around after the four year old drew a wide barrier in the Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 24.
Achernar Star settled near the tail of the field after jumping from gate fourteen in the fifteen horse Railway Stakes field but failed to make any impression and wound up in tenth position behind the winner Galaxy Star.
Miller will instruct Shaun McGruddy to take up a forward position from the inside gate and is hoping for an improved performance.
“We decided to go back in the Railway and he was caught wide,” Miller told The West Australian.
“He’ll go forward this time. The Railway has been his only blemish this time in.
“He won first-up, then ran placings in the Northam Cup and Lee-Steere Stakes.
“I think this week’s Kingston Town is stronger than when he ran third in the race last year.
“But the horse is going better than he was 12 months ago.”
Railway Stakes winner Galaxy Star was out of luck at the Kingston Town Classic barrier draw and will jump from thirteen after William Pike gave her a miraculous ride from barrier two to win the Railway Stakes.
Chris Parnham takes over the reins on Galaxy Star in the Kingston Town Classic after Pike decided to stay with Arcadia Queen (barrier 6) whom he rode to victory against the three year olds in the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing W.A. Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on Railway Stakes Day.
Under the weight for age conditions of the Kingston Town Classic, Arcadia Queen, a three year old filly, will only have to carry 50kg and this was the main factor in Pike’s decision to ride the W.A. Guineas winner this weekend.
Arcadia Queen is the firm $2.30 favourite for the Kingston Town Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Galaxy Star at $4.80, Mackinnon Stakes winner Trap For Fools at $7.50 and last year’s runner up Material Man at $8 while Achernar Star is marked as one of the outsider at $34.
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