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Historical Overviews

3 minute read

Most would consider Kingston Town to easily be in the top five all time greats of Australian racing. Check out the stats of a G1 WFA contest named in his honour that's been won by some classic horses including Family of Man, Mighty Kingdom, Vo Rogue, Better Loosen Up and the King himself.


2008 KINGSTON TOWN CLASSIC

RACE PROFILE

    Niconero has thrived in Perth<br>Photo by Racing and Sports
    Niconero has thrived in Perth
    Photo by Racing and Sports

  • Barriers have played little importance when considering this race.

  • Mares have only won 3 times in 30 years.

  • 5 x 3yos have won the last 21 Classics. 8 of the 11 before that were won by 3yos. A remarkable transformation.

  • Niconero looking to become the 4th horse to win two Classics – others being Family of Man, Summer Beau and Old Comrade.

  • Last 15 Years Railway Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – Modem ('04), Old Comrade ('01), Island Morn ('94)

  • Last 15 Years Lee Steere Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – (No examples)

  • Last 15 Years Winterbottom Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – (No examples)

  • Last 15 Years Emirates Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – (No examples)

  • Last 15 Years WA Guineas / Kingston Town Classic double – Megatic ('07), Old Nick ('98), Summer Beau ('96)

  • Last 15 Years CB Cox Stks / Kingston Town Classic double – Early Express ('05)

SUMMARY & SELECTIONS

The final G1 race for 2008 and yet again it's as open as Sydney Heads. Like the Railway you have a congregation of Eastern Staters looking to take the title off the Westerners who were able to repel the challenge when Gilded Venom took that million dollar handicap.

From a pace perspective, it does seem like it will be more genuine than the Railway where Bank Robber and Sniper's Bullet controlled the tempo. The race got a bit ugly for them when a couple whipped around to the death seat at the 600.

The three obvious go forward horses are Mission Critical (9), Annenkov (15) and Sniper's Bullet (6). The one thing some of these horses can't afford to do is make it a sprint home because there are a couple of your adept 1400/1600m chances, with cushy barriers, that are just waiting to pounce. They include Marasco in gate 1, Gilded Venom in 2, Grand Nirvana in 3 and Sniper's himself in 6.

Because of this fact, I reckon they'll get rolling from the half mile and give those with longer distance credentials an opportunity to strike. The most evident horse under those circumstances is Niconero. He has apparently thrived in Perth as was witnessed by his slashing 4th in the Railway and no track conditions will harm his chances after running a cracking time in winning this race two years ago.

Marasco - 'the mighty M' has been heavily backed to win his first Group One<br>Photo by Bronwen Healy
Marasco - 'the mighty M' has been heavily backed to win his first Group One
Photo by Bronwen Healy

Marasco is the horse that has had an unconventional preparation but is now right in the game after drawing gate 1. Here's a good stat – he's had 5 starts from the inside and won 4 of them. That may be the reason he has been heavily supported post draw on top of the support pre draw.

Of the roughies, two should be noted. The Fuzz has a good record around this distance range having won a Blamey Stks and was just touched off in the Listed race on Cup Day in a race which included some of his rivals in this race. He was poking along the fence in the Railway and could run home well.

The other roughie is Railings. I admit he hasn't won since the Caulfield Cup of 2005 but I noticed him run OK at Flemington and then nothing went right on a bog in the Ballarat Cup. If he does show improvement, the Perth Cup could be his target.

Selection: Niconero

Hardest to Beat: Marasco

Best Roughies: The Fuzz/Railings

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