Emerging Group 1 galloper Supply And Demand has enough early speed to overcome a wide barrier in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Supply And Demand, above, has to overcome a wide barrier in the Railway Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Steve Hart.
Supply And Demand draw barrier nineteen from a possible twenty in the original draw for the Railway Stakes but could jump from gate fifteen in the final sixteen horse field if all four emergencies fail to gain a start.
The only horse drawn outside of Supply And Demand is the Adam Durrant trained Silverstream with Perth’s leading jockey William Pike in the saddle.
Supply And Demand has four wins and three seconds from his last seven starts, has raced in the lead or on the pace for the majority of them and is coming off a last start second to Hellova Street in the Group 3 $200,000 TCL TV Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on November 9.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott believes that Supply And Demand has enough versatility in his make up to bounce out of the barriers and find a comfortable spot in or near the lead from the awkward gate.
“It’s a little bit of a tricky draw, but outside of that, he’s travelled over well and he’s a very fit horse,” Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, told The West Austalian.
“He doesn’t have to do much going into the race.
“The best thing in our favour to overcome the draw is the fact that the horse is so versatile.
“He has tactical speed to be on the pace or lead, but if we decide that’s not the best option, he has a lovely turn of foot when coming from off the pace.”
“He looks to profile a bit better over 1800 fourth-up, but he’s also effective over the mile.
“He just lacked a bit of dash and got caught flat-footed last start. A strong mile with a good tempo will suit him.”
Josh Parr takes the ride replacing Beau Mertens but he is no stranger to Supply And Demand, with the pair combining for wins in the Listed $175,000 The Pump House Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 1 and in the Listed $160,000 McKimms Real Estate Grafton Cup (2350m) at Grafton on July 13.
Parr was also aboard the Sebring gelding two starts back when second to Cabeza De Vaca in the $100,000 Filante Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on October 28.
A wide barrier has seen Supply And Demand’s Railway Stakes price drift out from $8 to $9.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Chris Waller trained Tom Melbourne as the $6 favourite.
Local hero Scales Of Justice and the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart share the second line of betting at $6.50 while Brad Parnham’s mount Variation has had some interest, firming in from $13 to $11.