Ciaron Maher trainer tips Light Infantry Man to get first Group 1 win

Six-year-old Light Infantry Man has yet to win a Group 1 race in his career. The betting sites think that will change this weekend.

Light Infantry Man is the current betting favourite to win the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday.

The gelding’s training team, the prestigious Ciaron Maher Racing outfit, are also confident about Light Infantry Man’s chances. A representative from the firm says the son of Fast Company deserves to be the Railway Stakes favourite.

Slow start to 2024 for top gelding

Light Infantry Man started his 2024/25 racing season with a string of poor results.

The gelding finished 8th in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes. He then raced to a disappointing 9th place finish in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Antino.

The son of Fast Company followed those results up with yet another poor showing in the Group 2 Crystal Mile.

Light Infantry Man finally turned his poor run around last Thursday in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington. The gelding finished first place, 3.5 lengths ahead of Symon Wilde’s Plenty Of Ammo.

Trainer says gelding deserves shot

After his impressive run in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes, Light Infantry Man’s trainers think he is ready to challenge in Group 1 races again.

“We’ve been thinking about it (the Railway Stakes) for some time,” Jack Turnbull, Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer at Cranbourne said this week.

“It works in pretty well with horses that want fast ground and keep running on into the season,” he added.

Turnbull also credited how jockey Blake Shinn and Light Infantry Man dealt with adversity in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes on Thursday.

“He was gifted a beautiful ride, and it worked out,” Turnbull said, “His start prior he nearly fell.

“Blake got off and said ‘if he got clear running, he would’ve run into a placing’. It was good to see him put two together.”

Champion jockey James Mcdonald is expected to ride Light Infantry Man at Ascot on Friday.

Railway Stakes preview

Light Infantry Man has slowly crept up the Railway Stakes betting odds list throughout the week. The six-year-old is now the clear favourite with $5 chances to win.

Bjorn Baker’s Belclare and Daniel Morton’s Super Smink round out the top three with $7 odds to win.

Light Infantry Man’s stablemate, Socks Nation, will also race in the Railway Stakes on Saturday. The betting apps give the four-year-old mare just $13 chances.