Racing: Million dollar mission in Perth

Kerrin McEvoy rides He's Remarkable (right) to victory in the Visit Victoria Handicap on Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington this month. Photo / Getty Images

Roger James has always been huge on getting emerging horses into major races at the lowest weight before they climb the ladder.

The Cambridge trainer missed out on the first of his two missions for the highly talented He's Remarkable - Melbourne's A$1 million ($1.3 million) Emirates Stakes - so he's making certain of the second.

But he's had to go to Perth to try and make sure of it.

James has He's Remarkable in the A$1 million Railway Stakes at Ascot late this afternoon.

The second target is the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick in the autumn and James sees today's race as his realistic ticket to Doncaster entry.

"I spoke to the handicapper in Australia and he said on his current rating he wouldn't have made this year's Doncaster, so I have to get his rating up and group ones are the best way to do it."

He's Remarkable has been backed into $7.50 equal third favourite from $15 after drawing barrier No 1.

James doesn't see that necessarily as a godsend, but is not greatly concerned about the quality galloper being pocketed in.

Rider Kerrin McEvoy is not at all worried about the inside barrier. McEvoy hasn't ridden in Perth since 2002, most of the time since being spent riding in Europe as No 2 behind Frankie Dettori for Goldolphin. James hadn't been to Perth before arriving on Monday night with He's Remarkable.

The Cambridge trainer has won 24 group one races - four in Australia - and hopes He's Remarkable can become the first New Zealand-trained winner of WA's premier metric mile/sprint.

James said He's Remarkable has settled well since arriving in Perth, admitting surprise at how agitated he had become before his consolation win in the Visit Victoria Handicap (1600m), after missing the final field for the A$1 million Emirates Stakes (1600m) on the same day.

"He was surprisingly bad at Flemington," James said.

"He didn't get so stirred up on Cox Plate day in the Crystal Mile. He's now had a month in Australia and raced at Flemington on one of its biggest days. He seems to have settled much better here."

He's Remarkable can get back early in his races, but McEvoy said he could settle closer to the speed from barrier one "He usually sits midfield or a little further back, but if the pace is steady he can be handy to them," McEvoy said. "We've got a few options.

"It [barrier one] doesn't worry me, as long as he gets away. He's better with cover so we can definitely get that from the gate.

"At Flemington he was slow out of the barriers and with a muddling pace, to be able to pick them up with 59kg and win was a big effort.

"He drops to 53kg and gives me the impression of a horse that is right in it in a handicap like this."