Racing: Top flight horses to contest A$1 million Railway Stakes in Perth

Photo / Richard Robinson

Betting on Australia's next Group One race on Saturday week has opened as five horses at the top of the market left for Perth on Wednesday.

On board a charter flight out of Melbourne were high-profile eastern states gallopers Black Piranha, Triple Honour, Trusting, Sniper's Bullet and Gathering - all rated leading chances in the Railway Stakes at Ascot next Saturday.

The quintet, along with boom local Colour Correct, head TAB Sportsbet's first market on the A$1 million feature.

Colour Correct shares favouritism with last year's winner Sniper's Bullet at A$6, just ahead of Trusting (A$6.50) and Triple Honour (A$8).

Black Piranha, to be ridden by Daniel Ganderton in his Perth campaign, is at A$8 while Gathering is rated a A$12 chance.

Black Piranha has been given 58.5kg topweight, 0.5kg more than Sniper's Bullet and Triple Honour.

Trusting has been given 55.5kg while Patinack Farm stablemate Gathering is on the limit with 52kg.

Patinack racing manager Robyn Hartney said James Winks, who rode Trusting in the Emirates Stakes last Saturday, would follow the stallion to Perth. "We haven't finalised a jockey yet for Gathering," she said.

Hour Of Peril, who has been one of the recent stars of the Patinack Brisbane operation, was also on the flight. The three-year-old was flown from Brisbane to Melbourne on Monday to connect with the Perth Racing-sponsored charter flight.

"He never turned a hair on the Brisbane to Melbourne flight," Hartney said.

Provided he also comes through the Melbourne to Perth leg without a hitch, Hour Of Peril will be the first eastern states runner at this year's summer carnival when he lines up in the A$250,000 WA Guineas at Ascot today.

Leading Perth jockey William Pike has been booked for the Guineas mount.

- AAP