PORT LOCKROY SAILS HOME IN RAILWAY STAKES

Sydney visitor pinches one of Perth's top races, hands Johnston-Porter Gl milestone

- Michael Lee

Port Lockroy's win in the A$1.5 million (S$1.31 million) Group 1 Railway Stakes (1,600m) at Ascot on Nov 23 was as stellar as it bucked a few trends.

Most notably, the Sydney raider became the first interstate runner to win Perth's arguably most famous race since the Chris Waller-trained Good Project in 2015.

Coming under the polish of the relatively new partnership of British trainer Annabel Neasham and former Australian polo player Rob Archibald, Port Lockroy received third mention among the five-pronged squad from the eastern seaboard that could snap the nine-year spell.

Unsurprisingly, Light Infantry Man garnered the most votes, being another combination for Via Sistina's dynamic duo of Chris Waller and James McDonald, who was crowned Longines World's Best Jockey for the second time the next day.

The hype around the French import also extended to his performance. The UK Group 3 winner landed the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1,600m) at Flemington two weeks before his Perth assault.