Victorian galloper Gold Salute dominates the betting for the Group One Railway Stakes in Perth after a favourable barrier draw.The Mark Riley-trained six-year-old, who has been Group One-placed at his last two starts, on Tuesday drew gate seven of the 16 runners and two emergencies, sparking a flood of bets for him to win Saturday's 1600m feature at Ascot.Centrebet reported that after the draw nearly $10,000 was outlaid on Gold Salute, including one bet of $4,500 at $5, trimming his quote to $4.
Victorian galloper Gold Salute dominates the betting for the Group One Railway Stakes in Perth after a favourable barrier draw.
The Mark Riley-trained six-year-old, who has been Group One-placed at his last two starts, on Tuesday drew gate seven of the 16 runners and two emergencies, sparking a flood of bets for him to win Saturday's 1600m feature at Ascot.
Centrebet reported that after the draw nearly $10,000 was outlaid on Gold Salute, including one bet of $4,500 at $5, trimming his quote to $4.80.
Similarly TAB Sportsbet put up Gold Salute at $4.50 but that was soon knocked down to $4.40.
At his last two starts Gold Salute has drawn wide, finishing a long neck second to Allez Wonder from barrier 16 in the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield and 2-3/4 length third from barrier 12 to All American and So You Think in the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Damien Oliver will ride Gold Salute.
Corey Brown's mount All American remains the biggest danger to Gold Salute after drawing barrier two and is solid at $6.50 with Centrebet and $7 with TAB Sportsbet.
Mornington trainer Tony Noonan confirmed crack four-year-old Ortensia would run in the Railway despite drawing poorly in barrier 13 and drifting in Centrebet's market from $7 to $8.50.
Noonan conferred with the mare's owners before giving her the green light to run.
"She will definitely take her place in the Railway," Noonan said.
"The barrier is not that bad as she likes to be held up for a run."
Last winter Ortensia was a Group Two winner of the QTC Cup (1200m) in Brisbane before a slashing third to Black Piranha in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Last start she was a luckless second to Strawberry Field in the Listed Herald Sun Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
"I expect her to be very hard to beat in the Railway and do not be surprised if she starts in the (Group Two) Winterbottom the following week," Noonan said.
Noonan, who has just taken up the lease on an Ascot property with 20 available boxes, has massive confidence in his Testa Rossa mare.
"The way she is going she is capable of winning both races," Noonan said.
Craig Williams takes the reins on Ortensia who has won seven of her 14 starts.
Local star Grand Nirvana is just inside Ortensia in gate 12 and has drifted from $8.50 to $9.
Kasabian, who has won his last six starts including the Group Three Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), drew barrier five and has firmed from $11 to $9 with Centrebet.
Tarzi, who was second to Idyllic Prince in the Group Two Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) on November 7, has barrier four and has firmed from $15 to $13.