3 minute read

Racing and Sports look at some of the key statistics surrounding the second edition of The Pinnacles.

It's day 2 of The Pinnacles and we are treated to arguably the state's best racing spectacle, the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).

Despite being run under handicap conditions, the $1.5 million mile race has for a long time attracted many interstate stars to take on the locals after the Melbourne carnival has concluded.

Although playing second fiddle (an impressive one at that), the Group 2 W.A Guineas is the day's other feature (1600m).

Run over the mile for the three-year-olds, the W.A Guineas has unearthed many of Perth's superstars over the years, with the most recent notable winners including Arcadia Queen (2018) and Amelia's Jewel (2022).

For this week's edition of Pinnacles Pointers, we run our eye over the history of the meeting's feature races assess the chances of key runners by using Racing & Sports' advanced ratings system.

Railway Stakes (1600m) - $1.5 million

By and large, a horse's form is forever fluctuating but what is much more consistent is the average winning rating of a race. In order to zone in on what horses are most likely to play prominent roles on Saturday, it is best to found out what it is required of them. 

Favourite: Alsephina (110)

Returning off a long break this campaign (307 days), this exciting five-year-old has hit the line hard in her two runs back but has yet to strike through. A big push for the mare's chances comes with the booking of the wizard, William Pike. On the quick back up from the R.J Peters Stakes where she produced her peak rating, another bold performance looks imminent, but Pike will have to get his mount to take somewhat of a significant leap if she is to fit the mold of an average Railway Stakes winner.

Highest Rated: Tuvalu (121)

He's as true as the day is long this six-year-old gelding. Lindsey Smith's stable star has run above 110 in his last 11 starts, with his peak of 121 produced in the 2022 Champions Mile when beaten 0.5L by Alligator Blood. More recently, Tuvalu has produced a figure good enough to win the Railway Stakes in his last two starts - 120 two back in the G1 Underwood Stakes (beaten 1L by Alligator Blood) and 118 last start when finishing a long neck (0.4L) away from Prowess in the G2 Crystal Mile. Deservedly carrying the top weight this weekend, Tuvalu doesn't have to do anything he hasn't done before to be right in the thick of it.

WA Guineas (1600m) - $500 000

Favourite: Keshi Boom (105)

This filly has announced herself as a true star this campaign, going from strength-to-strength in all three runs. Her win two back in the Listed Burgess Queen when knocking off the hot pot Super Smink was impressive but the filly was able to improve again in her following start with a peak rating of 105 to take out the WA Champion Fillies. Scoring with a bit up her sleeve when soft on the line in the Champion Fillies further improvemt is anticipated, which if she's able to do so, fits the mold perfectly.

Highest Rated: Super Smink (106)

Coming into this preparation shouldering a tag of arguably Australia's best fillly, the D Morton-trained three-year-old has been slightly below her best in her two runs back. Although far from convincing first up in the Belgravia Stakes when arrivng just in time to score by a head with a rating of 104, many thought the daughter of Super One was all but a certaintiy to salute in the Burgess Queen, before ultimately being beaten 1.3L by Keshi Boom and running an 103 rating. Only just below her peak rating in her two runs back, it is worth nothing it took Super Smink four runs to crack the 100 mark in her debut prep, and when she did she improved nine pounds to take out the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate back in April. If she was to take a similar step forward this time, she would make for a very impressive Gunieas winner.