Railway S. champion Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was the hot-shot with punters for the past week backed into the shortest-priced favourite at $1.20 of the 46-runnings of Western Australia’s $1 million weight-for-age championship.
Top jockey William Pike bounced Western Empire to be up in sixth place, three deep but travelling comfortably to pacemaker Too Close The Sun (Carlton House {USA}), who set a moderate pace.
Regal Power wins the G1 Kingston Town Classic | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
When Pike pressed the button Western Empire loomed up to run past Dance Music (War Chant {USA}) and Too Close The Sun at the 150 metres, but there was none of the explosiveness from a fortnight ago, when he blitzed the Railway S. (1600 metres) by a barnstorming 4l.
Patrick Carbery was happy sitting Regal Power at the back end of the 10-horse field steadily improving from the 400 metres.
Regal Power crept up edging closer before pouncing and finished with too much gusto inside the last 50 metres nailing his stable-mate with a comfortable 0.5l win.
Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon) also ran home strongly, with rider Chris Parnham trying to squeeze between Regal Power and Western Empire inside the final 50 metres. She finished third a further longneck behind.
Parnham lodged a protest against Western Empire alleging interference from the 1700 metres to the 1100 metres and over the concluding stages.
Stewards dismissed the objection, but found Pike had allowed Western Empire to shift out and bump Kissonallforcheeks at the 20-metre mark. They suspended Pike for 17 days beginning at midnight on Sunday.
Regal Power, who won the 2019 Railway, broke a 630-day drought, when he became the seventh horse to win the Railway S. - Kingston Town Classic double.
Patrick Carbery | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
He joined former Peters-owned star Old Comrade (Old Spice), who won the double in 2001, Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}) (1989), Island Morn (Marooned {GB}) (1994), Modem (Bletchley Park {GB}) (2004), Sniper’s Bullet (Bite The Bullet) (2009) and Luckygray (Bradbury’s Luck) (2011 {Railway} and 2012 {Kingston Town}).
Group 1 clean sweep
Peters and the Williams-trained mare Graceful Girl (Nicconi) annexed the middle leg of the Group 1 treble Winterbottom S. (1200 metres) last Saturday.
The all-conquering owner and trainer combination claimed the G2 WA Guineas (1600 metres) with rising star 3 year-old filly Treasured Star (Toronado {Ire}) on the first day of The Masters, making a clean sweep of all Group 2 and Group 1 features.
Peters, who initiated the concept of Kingston Town Classic, when he was on the WA Turf Club (Perth Racing) committee in the early 1970s has now won the race a remarkable seven times.
Bob Peters, Grant and Alana Williams | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Peters’ winners are Old Nick (Old Spice) (1998), Old Comrade (2000/01), Perfect Reflection (More Than Ready {USA}) (2015), Arcadia Queen (Pierro) (2019), Truly Great (Dundeel {NZ}) (2020) and Regal Power.
“I have always felt this is the best race in Western Australia,” Bob Peters said. "I think the Railway S. is the hardest race to win. The horses have equal weights in the Kingston Town, depending on their age, and the best horse wins.
“I am very happy with the result. I aimed Regal Power at this race and purposely missed the Railway. His two lead up runs (Northerly and Lee-Steere S.) were very good, he is a proven weight-for-age winner and he likes the distance.”
“I am very happy with the result. I aimed Regal Power at this race and purposely missed the Railway." - Grant Williams
Regal Power won the $5 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield last year, but his Melbourne form then tapered off.
The gelding was found to have a lung infection in the spring of 2020 and was returned home to Peters’ Keysbrook property and then to Williams’ Karnup stables.
Williams took Regal Power back to Melbourne for an autumn campaign this year, but he fell sick, having only a single unplaced start.
Grant Williams said Regal Power thrived in the home environment at the stable.
“It was unbelievable to quinella the race again,” Williams said. "Especially for this bloke to win was marvellous. Pat has ridden this bloke three times and done a sensational job.
“It was unbelievable to quinella the race (Kingston Town Classic) again. Especially for this bloke (Regal Power) to win was marvellous. Pat has ridden this bloke three times and done a sensational job." - Grant Williams
“He had allergy problems over in Victoria. When he won the All-Star Mile he backed up seven days from the Australian Cup (second) and everything went perfect. We ended up getting stuck over there and he got out of his comfort zone.
“We had to work him differently to what he was used to and he wasn’t enjoying it. We got him home and he just loves it. If you can get him right he is terrific.
“Western Empire is on the way up but this bloke has already done it.”
Williams had quinellaed the Kingston Town with Perfect reflection and Delicacy in 2015 and Truly Great and Inspirational Girl last year.
Western Empire will go for a well-earned spell, while Regal Power will head into the G2 Ted Van Heemst S. in a fortnight.
Bob and Sandra Peters | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
For Carbery it was his second victory in the Kingston Town in the past four years. His previous win was aboard the $26 chance Kiwi-bred galloper Pounamu (Authorized {Ire}) for trainer Alan Mathews.
Carbery had earlier given trainer Simon Miller the middle-leg of a feature hat-trick, winning on Liwa (Mulaazem) in the Listed Sir Lee-Steere Classic.
“The pace was a lot steadier than what it appeared on paper,” Carbery said. "He settled really well and it is a credit to his trainers to get him back to his best.
“I have ridden for Bob and Sandra for a lot of years. I am wrapped to be able to win this race for them.”
“I have ridden for Bob and Sandra for a lot of years. I am wrapped to be able to win this race (Kingston Town Classic) for them.” - Patrick Carbery
Miller also won the G3 Scahill S. with Valour Road (Frost Giant {USA}) and Listed Jungle Dawn Classic with Angelic Miss (NZ) (Savabeel).
