Luckygray wins the Kingston Town Stakes

Saturday 8 December 2012, 8:55pm

Popular West Australian horse Luckygray has turned the tables on last-start conqueror Mr Moet to win the Kingston Town Classic, the final Group One race of the year.

The winner of the 2011 Railway Stakes, Luckygray got a long way back early and ran home in this year's renewal but just failed to pick up Mr Moet who had a 4-1/2 kilo advantage under handicap conditions.

Two weeks later at weight-for-age and Luckygray ($2.25 fav) erased lingering doubts about his ability to run 1800 metres when he came wide at the top of the straight and charged down the outside, holding off Mr Moet ($13) by 1-1/4 lengths.

Melbourne visitor Wall Street was a late scratching after getting his hind leg caught in the barrier.

Luckygray's trainer Gino Poletti and jockey Shaun O'Donnell are both keen to go back to the eastern states in the autumn after a 2011 campaign ended prematurely due to the horse contracting a virus.

"Things didn't go our way this year," Poletti said.

"He's going to the paddock tomorrow and we'll map out a program for the autumn. I'm looking at Sydney and Melbourne."

Poletti said he was happy to see Luckygray wide and out of trouble coming to the home turn.

"It's his asset, being able to stride around the corner," he said.

"I was confident he would get the 1800 metres.

"He gives his all and he's just a pleasure to train."

O'Donnell said he was eager to go back east to give a healthy Luckygray the chance to show what he could do.

"I want to go back," he said.

"He deserves a chance to race against the best ones again.

"I love this horse. He is the best I've ever ridden.

"It's brilliant."

– AAP

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