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The Rhys Radford trained Great Shot stole the show at Ascot on Saturday, when leading throughout to land the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

Sent out one of the outsiders (30-1 SP), Great Shot was rewarded for his consistency, digging deep to hold off the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart.

The third leader in a row to win the Railway [Scales Of Justice & Good Project], Great Shot followed up on his narrow defeats in recent efforts landing the prize for 26 year-old Radford.

Great Shot's victory was also jockey Craig Staples' first in Group 1 company, a day both will never forget.

Great Shot JUST holds out Black Heart Bart in a thrilling G1 Railway Stakes! pic.twitter.com/A7P5SLk7LH

— TAB (@tabcomau) 25 November 2017

A winner of eight of his 24 starts, Great Shot returned a new career peak, rated 113 by Timeform.

The lowest rated winner of the race since Elite Belle (2014), Great Shot improved three pounds on his previous best with Black Heart Bart the key runner out of the event.

In his first start at home since December 2015 (C.B. Cox Stakes -2100m), Black Heart Bart performed admirably, narrowly edged out with the big weight.

Although unable to win this time in, Black Heart Bart notched up his third Group 1 placing and was only marked marginally off his peak.

Rated 125 by Timeform, Black Heart Bart is the highest rated performer in the race in the last 20 years.

An impressive training performance to say the least, Black Heart Bart went into Saturday's race off a 55 day break, unseen since unplaced behind Bonneval in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes [1800m].

Bullish all week in the lead up, the Weir camp certainly appears to have Barty Boy back on track with the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes [1800m] at his mercy.

Under the weight-for-age conditions he holds a clear class edge over his rivals and it's hard to see anything coming out of the Railway and beating him in two weeks time.

The James Cummings trained It's Somewhat shapes as the main/only danger following his solid performance in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes [2000m] last start.

Progressing nicely this preparation, It's Somewhat possesses a career peak Timeform rating of 122 achieved when winning this year's Doncaster Handicap [1600m].

Although yet to get back to that mark, It's Somewhat is a solid conveyance and his on-pace racing pattern further pushes his claims.

Group 2 W.A. Guineas [1600m] winner Perfect Jewel is the fresh blood and will be out to emulate her former stablemate Perfect Reflection in winning the Kingston Town Stakes as a three-year-old filly.

Held back from lining up in the W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes [1600m] last weekend, Perfect Jewel was simply too good, aided by a gem of a ride from the Wizard.

Rated 104p by Timeform, Perfect Jewel has plenty to find if she is to topple Black Heart Bart, however she is certainly heading the right way.

Perfect Reflection notably went into the Kingston Town Stakes rated 105p, she rounded out her 3YO campaign rated 113.