Monday, 20 November 2017: The Race History of the 2017 Railway Stakes run at Ascot on Saturday shows some champs began their assent in this race.

Black Heart Bart

A horse like Northerly  started his legendary career by winning this race in 2000. Could another join him by kicking off a maiden G1 in the 2017 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.

2017 RAILWAY STAKES – ALL IN MARKET

Market courtesy of Sportsbet

$5.50: Black Heart Bart 
$6.50: Scales Of Justice 
$8: Supply And Demand 
$9: Tom Melbourne 
$9: It's Somewhat 

*All others quoted at $15 or greater in full market.

2017 RAILWAY STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Railway Stakes is a G1 race run under Handicap conditions for the milers at Ascot conducted by Perth Racing.

The Railway Stakes is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1887 and was won by Nimrod.

The race was originally run on Perth Cup day as a support race.

Early editions of the Railway Stakes were over 2000m but gradually reduced to 1500m until back up to a mile from 1984 onwards.

The Railway Stakes was a Principal Race then became a Group 1 from 1979.

Light weights do have a top record in the Railway. The 56.5kg (Sniper’s Bullet) was the biggest weight carried since the metric system came in before Luckygray (58kg) scored in remarkable circumstances in 2013.

Gathering, Good Project and Scales Of Justice led all the way in recent years.

Four year olds have won 24 of the last 58 Railways.

Some Cox Plate winners have won the Railway before taking the Moonee Valley race. Both Northerly and Better Loosen Up kept improving enough to win the next year.

2003 running was at Belmont racecourse.

Those to do the Railway Stakes/Kingston Town Classic double are Better Loosen Up, Old Comrade, Modem and Sniper’s Bullet.

The Railway Stakes is worth $1m in 2017.

Notable winners of the Railway Stakes include Luckygray (2011/2013), Sniper’s Bullet (2009), Modem (2004), Old Comrade (2001), Northerly (2000), Better Loosen Up (1989), Marwong (1988), Jungle Dawn (1987), Iko (1981), Asian Beau (1979), Detonator (1975), Starglow (1973), Millefleurs (1972), La Trice (1968), Big Bob (1961), Aquanita (1959), Beaufine (1943) and Lilyveil (1914).

The 2016 Railway Stakes was won by Scales Of Justice from Good Project and Perfect Reflection.