‘It’s going to take a couple of weeks to sink in’
Port Lockroy lands Railway Stakes for Neasham and Archibald as Cole Johnston-Porter rides breakthrough Group 1 winner
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald became the first trainers based outside of Western Australia to land the Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) since the Lindsey Smith-trained Scales Of Justice (Not A Single Doubt) in 2016 when Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) stormed home to take out Saturday’s feature Group 1 event at Ascot.
With interstate raiders holding a poor record in the $1.5 million contest, and Port Lockroy having yet to record a win in stakes company, the four-year-old son of Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) was sent off a $9 chance under Cole Johnston-Porter, despite having run a very eye-catching sixth in the Golden Eagle (1500m) just three weeks earlier.
Having sat handy under Johnston-Porter throughout the first 1000 metres of the Railway, Port Lockroy ranged up to leaders Belclare (Per Incanto) and Socks Nation (Sioux Nation) rounding the home bend and, having taken up the lead inside the final 200 metres, ran on well to always hold the fast-finishing Comfort Me (Playing God) and Super Smink (Super One), who were split for second and third in a photo-finish, by 0.8 lengths.
“I’m so excited for the owners of the horse, he’s been so unlucky almost his whole career, through barriers or whatever it may be,” a delighted Archibald said.
“It’s a huge thrill. I’m so lucky to be in this position and Annabel [Neasham] has always had so much faith in this horse and it was nice to see a really good ride and him deliver on a big stage.”
Having caught the eye when working home well late in the 1500-metre Golden Eagle on November 2, Port Lockray seemed to enjoy the step back up to a mile on Saturday.
“I thought he [Cole Johnston-Porter] got him into a lovely spot,” Archibald said.
“We said to the jockey just try to begin well because he’s a casual customer and he can get a bit back in his races and fly home.
“He just couldn’t have been any better, he pushed forward, got outside the leader and relaxed beautifully. CJ couldn’t have done any more – it was a super ride.”
Saturday’s Group 1 success was a first for local jockey Johnston-Porter, who was naturally delighted with the end result of a confident ride.
“We were drawn seven and everyone probably thinks it’s a good barrier, but it can be very tricky,” the winning rider said.
“In the first 200 metres of the race, I thought, ‘oh, I’ve really stuffed this up’. The apprentice in me came out and I kicked forwards and ended up lobbing in a beautiful spot. I just got a little bit itchy on the corner and I think it won me the race.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a very long time and I was stiff last season not to get one so to get one on the board, it’s just massive.
I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a very long time and I was stiff last season not to get one so to get one on the board, it’s just massive
“To get one on the board is massive and to be a Railway, our iconic race. I thought his run in the Golden Eagle was a very good run. I’m so relieved it’s all over and done with.
“It’s going to take a couple of weeks to sink in.”
Port Lockroy was purchased for $300,000 by Neasham and Brian McGuire from the Yarramalong Park draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Still an entire, he has now earned $1,215,250 in prize-money, with three wins and a further five placings to his name from a total of just 15 starts.
Out of the stakes-placed winning mare Freezethemillions (Freeze), Port Lockroy (4 h Better Than Ready – Freezethemillions by Freeze) is a brother to the BJ McLachlan Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and Phelan Ready Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Alpine Edge, who also finished runner-up in the 2021 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) and landed the $1 million Racing Qld Magic Millions (1300m) and is now covering his first book of mares at Clear Mountain Fairview Stud.
Freezethemillions has an unraced two-year-old brother to Port Lockroy named Mortal Halo and foaled a filly by Supido (Sebring) on September 10.
In winning Saturday’s Railway, Port Lockroy became the second individual elite-level winner and 14th individual stakes winner for Lyndhurst Stud’s Better Than Ready, who is standing at a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).