3 minute read

Fresh from success in Saturday’s Group 3 Euroz Hartleys WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m), Kyra Yuill will get a chance for more feature race glory aboard The Velvet King in this Saturday’s Railway Stakes (1600m).

The ride on the multiple Group 3 winner became available after Chris Parnham elected to ride Kissonallforcheeks and Mitchell Pateman was suspended.

Trainer Darren Mcauliffe booked Yuill for the ride this morning, with the gelding set to start second-up in the $1 million feature.

The Velvet King finished a respectable fifth first-up in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) on November 6 and will be lining up in his second Railway Stakes.

Yuill said she was confident The Velvet King could measure up in the Railway Stakes.

"When he puts his best foot forward, he's a very good horse," Yuill told TABradio.

"Obviously Darren will have him ready to go for the Railway.

"It's the race we all aim for."

The Velvet King was slow into stride in the Lee Steere Stakes, which proved detrimental to his chances of winning the race.

Yuill said getting the start right would be crucial this week.

"He can come out a bit tardy, so the main aim is to get him out of the gates," she said.

"I'll have a chat to Darren and figure out what he might want me to do.

"It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm very happy to pick this horse up."

Yuill has also picked up the ride on the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Devoted in Saturday's Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).

Devoted finished second to It'sarayday in the Fairetha Stakes nine days ago and will be having just his fourth career start in the Guineas.