Eight-year-old Hartleys Dream has again had no luck with the barrier draw ahead of his fourth crack at the Group One Railway Stakes at Ascot.The Peter Giadresco-trained gelding, who will be ridden by Troy Turner, came up with the outside gate in the 16-strong field to jump from the tricky 1600m start on Saturday.The Bernie Stephens-owned Hartleys Dream first started in the Railway Stakes in 2004 when he was trained by Lindsey Smith.On that occasion he took his place amid injury concerns and fini
Eight-year-old Hartleys Dream has again had no luck with the barrier draw ahead of his fourth crack at the Group One Railway Stakes at Ascot.
The Peter Giadresco-trained gelding, who will be ridden by Troy Turner, came up with the outside gate in the 16-strong field to jump from the tricky 1600m start on Saturday.
The Bernie Stephens-owned Hartleys Dream first started in the Railway Stakes in 2004 when he was trained by Lindsey Smith.
On that occasion he took his place amid injury concerns and finished last.
During the summer carnival of 2005 he was kept to sprint distances but the following year, when in the stables of Trevor Andrews, Hartleys Dream went into the Railway in good form having finished second to Belle Bizarre in the Group Two Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
After drawing barrier 12 in the field of 16, he was last on the home bend and the widest runner at the 400 metres but still came home strongly to finish eighth, beaten only two lengths by Belle Bizarre.
Last year Giadresco, Hartley Dream's third trainer, ran him in the Lee Steere Stakes again before he drew the extreme outside barrier (16) in the Railway and ran on from near last to finish a length second to El Presidente.
"He doesn't know he is eight years of age and his form leading into Saturday's Railway Stakes is as good as it has ever been," Stephens told perthracing.com.au.
"I know he has never won at Ascot but he has run some cracking races there. I didn't do him any favours at the barrier draw but I am good at that."
Hartleys Dream was a solid last-start third to Marasco in the Lee Steere and meets the Railway topweight on 5.5kg better weight terms on Saturday.
"This horse is flying and he is going better than this time last year when he finished second to El Presidente," Giadresco told perthracing.com.au.
"I know it is a stronger field this year, but he drops a lot in weight and his work at home cannot be faulted."
Despite the confidence of his connections, Hartleys Dream is a $71 outsider in the latest TAB Sportsbet market which is headed by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bank Robber at $4.50.
Craig Newitt's mount Rightfully Yours is second favourite at $5.50 ahead of Marasco ($6.50) and Gilded Venom ($8.50).