Oakford trainer Rhys Radford is confident Comfort Me can end his Ascot Masters campaign on a winning high in Saturday’s Glenroy Chaff A.J.Scahill Stakes (1400m).
Following a personal best in last fortnight’s Railway Stakes (1600m), the five-year-old has attracted solid support from punters and Radford is anticipating another big run.
Comfort Me run out of his skin in the Railway Stakes, producing the best run of his career to finish runner-up to budding star and hot favourite Western Empire.
Comfort Me is favourite with Tabtouch to repeat his gallant performance in the Group 3 Scahill Stakes. In current markets he is $3.10 firming in from $3.60.
Radford says Comfort Me has trained on and if can perform to the level he reached in the Railway Stakes, he’s confident he’ll be the horse to beat.
“He’s shown no signs of training off and I’m quietly confident about his prospects,” Radford told The Races WA.
“I think there is some improvement left in him and I’m quite excited.
“I was so proud of him in the Railway.
“I’ve always held him in high regard, but like his brother, Son Of Bacchus, he is getting better as he gets older.
“I think he will be an even better horse in 12-months’ time.
“I’m content with his form and if hits his last run in the Railway he will be there again.
“Equal terms at weight for age is an ask, but I can’t fault him in any way.”
The Scahill Stakes has attracted a field of seven starters with Comfort Me drawn in barrier five.
Mitchell Pateman gets the sit back on Comfort Me after guiding him to successive wins before the Railway.
Peter Knuckey rode Comfort Me at 53kg in the Railway with Pateman unable to make the weight.
Comfort Me has been the best backed runner in the Scahill. Stageman and Massimo, second and third in betting are easy.
Stageman has eased from $3.80 to $4.20 and Massimo $4 to $4.40.
Valour Road is steady at $5.50.
Read Can Man ($7.50) is the only other runner in single figure odds
