Timeform Recap: Railway Stakes Day

A masterful front-running ride was the key highlight at Ascot on Saturday when Scales Of Justice led throughout to win the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

Facing easily his sternest test, Scales Of Justice rose to the occasion when stretching his already imposing record.

Yet to miss the money in 12 starts prior, Scales Of Justice really spring boarded off his R.J. Peters win, when easily accounting of his rivals in the feature event.

Ridden by champion jockey Douglas Whyte aka "The Durban Demon", Scales Of Justice controlled the race from the outset and after shaking off Mackintosh on straightening, he never appeared in any doubt.

Displaying a sharp turn of foot passing the 200m, Scales Of Justice drew well clear, racing away to score by three lengths.

Last year's winner Good Project worked home well to finish second but had no answer for the four-year-old, talented mare Perfect Reflection finished third.

While earmarked early doors as a very promising type, the improvement Scales Of Justice has made in the last two weeks has been nothing short of remarkable.

Scales Of Justice improved nine pounds taking out the R.J. Peters Stakes [1500m] last weekend and proceeded to take a similar step forward on Saturday.

His performance winning the Railway Stakes saw him return a new Timeform master rating of 118, two pounds above the winning average for the last five years.

Whether connections now press onto the Kingston Town Classic [1800m] remain to be seen, however if able to hold his form/repeat, he will certainly make his presence felt.

Although safely held on Saturday, talented mare Perfect Reflection appears to be tracking a long nicely in her effort to defend her crown in this year's Kingston Town Classic.

The return to weight-for-age certainly helps swing the race back in her favour and she should be right at her peak racing fourth up.

Her performance on Saturday suggests she is racing as well as ever and has successfully made the transition from her three-year-old season.

At her best she certainly looks to set a decent standard and with the Wizard aboard, she will be very hard to deny in two weeks time.

The Group 2 W.A. Guineas went the way of the Stephen Miller trained Variation, after many simply got carried away out in front.

In what resulted in an out-an-out slog, Variation reigned supreme when too strong late defeating the well-supported Ellicazoom.

Early leaders The Celt and Saul's Specialfinished at the tail which was no surprise after assessing the race shape.

While visually Variation looked to be savaging the line, in truth he was simply slowing down the slowest.

In summary, for the first 1000m the leaders averaged 11.87 second 200m sections, while the final 600m averaged 12.56 second 200m sections, approximately 4L slower (each section).

While this can lead to messy results, the fact Variation is only lightly raced suggests the performance was no fluke (20-1 SP).

Ellicazoom helps to lock the race away and both gallopers create a fair bit of interest moving forward.

The Kingston Town Classic should provide another look at the 3YO form with filly Samovare expected to take her place.

She was certainly a more than up to scratch winner of the WA Champion Fillies Stakes [1600m] and while facing a tough ask, she is expected to measure up.