Railway Remains Option For Samizdat
Promising four-year-old Samizdat is still a big chance of contesting the Ascot carnival after he launched his campaign at Lark Hill on Monday, according to Chris Gangemi.
An eastern states preparation targeting the Golden Eagle (1500m) in Sydney remains on the cards, but Gangemi hasn’t ruled out the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on home soil at Ascot in November.
The Bullsbrook trainer said what option to take will become much clearer after Samizdat resumes in the Listed Birthday Stakes (1200m) at Belmont on September 28.
“It’s an option to stay here and try to win the Railway this year,” Gangemi told The Races WA.
“It might not be a bad year to be in it.
“We will see how he goes in the Birthday Stakes, see how he pulls up and then weigh up our options.
“He’s not definitely going (eastern states), we will see how he races, how he pulls up, what flights are available and then look at it from there.”
Samizdat is a half-brother to Perth and Melbourne winner, Samovare and was the $325,000 sale topper at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth yearling sale.
The Not A Single Doubt gelding has won four of five starts and makes his much-anticipated return after going undefeated in two starts in the winter.
Gangemi said he was delighted by the manner in which Samizdat went about his 950m trial under minimal pressure from jockey Jarrad Noske.
He ran a close second to Arcadia Prince, who impressed and was unextended when he led from the start for William Pike.
“He just needed to come here and have a hit out and I’m very happy,” Gangemi said.
“He’s coming off a little break and got the hit out we wanted.
“I thought he trialled great and pulled up well.
“I’m very happy.”
In heat four Heart Starter ran fourth behind owner Bob Peters’ top pair, Perfect Jewel and Regal Power.
Completing his second trial, Heart Starter is in line to mark his first-up run over the Kalgoorlie carnival.
“He trialled good without being brilliant,” Gangemi said.
“He’s not the type of horse who will trial brilliantly.
“The 1400 metres of the Hannans might not be a bad race for him first-up.”
Julio Santarelli