Magnatear heads to Perth for Railway Stakes challenge

A significant Group 1 race on the opposite side of the country is now the focus for the consistent gelding Magnatear, whose connections have decided against contesting The Gong to instead target the Railway Stakes in Perth.

Will Freedman, co-trainer of the horse, confirmed that the gelding would not be among the entries for the Kembla Grange feature event. Instead, Magnatear is scheduled to depart Sydney on Monday for a flight to the west, with the $1.5 million Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 21 as his initial goal.

"It's a bit of an adventure for us all, and he'll go and represent NSW in the Railway and he'll probably stay on for the Gold Rush over there," Freedman commented.

"He's not quite up to the topliners in NSW and Victoria, and sometimes with these horses you've got to get creative.

"He's proven he can travel interstate and perform well. Last preparation he had his first-up run in Queensland, came back to Sydney and raced, then went back up to Queensland for the Magic Millions, so he's okay travelling.

"It's a big trip. He gets on the plane on Monday, and we'll see how he goes."

Magnatear has demonstrated his ability to be competitive in all three of his starts during the Sydney spring racing season. He finished second to Skyhook in the Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) in September, followed by a fourth-place finish just over a length behind the winner in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m), and a sixth place in The Big Dance (1600m) on November 3.

Reflecting on the gelding's recent performances, Freedman suggested that the conditions of his last race were not optimal, but he is confident Magnatear will be well-prepared for his campaign in the Railway Stakes.

"His run in the Big Dance was good. He just wasn't quite ready for the brutal nature of that race. They ran it in very quick time, and he was probably one run short of where we really wanted him to be," Freedman elaborated.

"But hopefully after that run and a trip over to Perth, he's cherry-ripe."

The ride in the Railway Stakes, as well as the Group 3 Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 12, is expected to be taken by Alysha Collett.

In recent history, horses originating from the eastern states have claimed two victories in the last eleven renewals of the Railway Stakes, with Port Lockroy being the most recent winner two years prior.

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