Historical Analysis of the Kingston Town Stakes
This WFA contest over 1800m has been won by some classic horses and was a regular western jaunt for leading Spring contenders in the 70s and 80s.
Family of Man, Mighty Kingdom, Bounty Hawk, Vo Rogue, Better Loosen Up and the King himself won this at certain times. A filly popped up last year. Let’s try and pin point a winner.
PROFILING THE RACE
o Barriers have played little importance when considering this race.
o Mares have only won 3 times in 35 years but a filly saluted in 2015.
o 8 x 3yos have won the last 29 Classics. 8 of the 11 before that were won by 3yos. A remarkable transformation but they did win in 2013/15.
o Playing God became the 5th horse to win two Classics - others being Niconero, Family of Man, Summer Beau and Old Comrade.
o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner - 3yo (4 times)
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $6
o Breakdown of winners - 9 geldings & 1 filly.
o Races that the winner ran in prior - Railway Stks (6), WA Guineas (2), Aquanita Stks (1), WA Championship (1).
RECENT WINNERS
2015 - PERFECT REFLECTION 3f (More Than Ready x Reflected Image) ($4.50 fav)
Jockey: William Pike, Trainer: Grant WilliamsBarrier: 12, Weight: 50.0kg, Gross Time: 1:53.78
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Heavy (8), Starters: 162nd: Delicacy (56.5kg), 3rd: Dark Musket (58.5kg)
Review: Well this was a tremendous performance on a wet track. A filly had never won this race and while the owner Bob Peters was hesitant to run her, he said he had no choice as the Guineas came up too quickly after her WA Championship Stakes win.
He had a plethora of good hopes in the race but who knew what would occur on the damp surface. They raced wide and peeled wider and Pike had her hitting the front shortly after straightening maybe getting there too soon.
The stablemate and top mare Delicacy followed her everywhere they went. They were nose for nose up the running and the mare was closest on the line but the younger girl remained unbeaten.
2014 - MORIARTY 6g (Clodovil x Justice System) ($4.50 fav)
Jockey: Douglas Whyte, Trainer: Chris WallerBarrier: 1, Weight: 59.0kg, Gross Time: 1:48.71
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good (3), Starters: 162nd: Disposition (52.0kg), 3rd: Elite Belle (57.0kg)
Review: Chris Waller was just on fire. He was winning G1s in Sydney and Melbourne but now stretched his wares to Perth for 10 of them in the calendar year.
This old horse was a tough horse and they rode him forward from the good gate. In a great ride by Douglas Whyte, he eased off the fence at the 500m, got clear and charged home at the 3yo.
Disposition is a very nice young horse and it took a hardened warrior to run him down. Moriarty puts in every campaign and gets at least one win. This one was a major.
2013 - IHTSAHYMN 3g (Ihtiram x Umatune) ($4.25)
Jockey: Steven Parnham, Trainer: Fred KersleyBarrier: 2, Weight: 52.0kg, Gross Time: 1:49.95
Margin: 0.3L, Track: Good (3), Starters: 112nd: Luckygray (59.0kg), 3rd: Rohan (59.0kg)
Review: Three year olds had been running well against the older horses at WFA but not totally dominating. Then again a Cox Plate is a ‘decent’ race.
But when a youngster is trained by Fred Kersley, one of the great horsemen, you knew it would be well prepared for tackling WFA. He’d come off a fast finishing WA Guineas win but faced most of those coming out of the Railway.
With Luckygray back near last, Steve Parnham, who had to give up the ride on old favourites including his Dad’s horse Playing God, went forward to be in the one by one. He made the more mature horses carry their weight. With only a head to spare, he showed he was a youngster who could come East and run well.
