Hometown hero Johnston-Porter lands maiden Group 1 victory, scoring Ascot’s Railway Stakes on Port Lockroy

NSW galloper Port Lockroy stormed home to claim Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Swan Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot, providing hometown hero Clint Johnston-Porter with his maiden elite-level win in the saddle. Johnston-Porter has established himself firmly amongst the best jockeys in WA over recent seasons and though going close on several occasions, the ultimate triumph had eluded the talented hoop. But on the biggest stage of them all, in WA’s biggest annual race, Johnston-Porter had time to rise erect in his irons and salute triumphantly as Port Lockroy ripped away to beat Comfort Me by three-quarters-of-a-length. “It’s gonna take a couple of weeks to sink in. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a very long time and I was stiff last season not to get one, so to get one on the board and in the Railway, our most iconic race, it’s just massive,” Johnston-Porter said. “I always was banking on his run in the Golden Eagle - it was a very good run - and when I worked him, it just backed it up. “I tried to not get too excited and talk myself into the nerves, but I’m just relieved that it’s all over and done with now. “Seven, everyone probably thinks it’s a good barrier, but it can be very tricky and in the first 200m of the race I thought I’ve really stuffed this up. “The apprentice in me came out and I kicked forwards and ended up lobbing a beautiful spot. “I just got a little bit itchy on the corner and I think it won me the race. “I was in disbelief. It wasn’t until past the line, I was saluting, but I was like ‘is this happening right now?’ But it did.” Rob Archibald, who trains the stallion in partnership with Annabel Neasham, only achieved his first Group 1 a fortnight earlier when Sunshine In Paris took the Champions Sprint and was beside himself with the dreamy fortnight. “It’s hard to believe, to be honest,” Archibald said. “I”m so excited for the owners in the horse - he’s been so unlucky, almost his whole career, through gates and whatever it may be. “He just executed a perfect race today, C J, so full credit to him. “The owners have been brave enough to come over and give it a go, so it’s such a great reward for them. “Liz has done a marvellous job, she travels with all our horses, she presented him in immaculate condition today, so it’s a huge thrill and I’m so lucky to be in this position. “Annabel has always had so much confidence in this horse and it was just nice to see a really good ride, and him to deliver on a big stage. I’m very grateful.” Archibald lavished superlatives on the riding effort of Johnston-Porter, who found the run of the race by slotting Port Lockroy into the one-out, one-back trail. “He got him into a lovely spot- we just said to him try to begin well because he’s a casual customer and he can get a bit back in his races and fire home,” Archibald said. “He just couldn’t have been any better. He looked like he might be three wide, he pushed forward again, got outside the leader, relaxed beautifully and got into a lovely rhythm and did the rest. It was a super ride. “With the 53kg, we looked around at who could ride at that and when his name popped up, we just jumped at it straight away. “We had a good association with Numerian last year and he’s a top-class rider and rides a lot of winners over here. “We were more than happy to have him on board and he’s delivered for us on a great stage, so happy for him. “I gave (Annabel) a quick call - she was screaming down the phone and she’s over the moon. “I’m not used to this situation, but I’m sure we’ll find somewhere to celebrate with the owners and C J and make a night of it. “What a day - I’ve never been here before and it’s such a great place.” In a cruel but proud twist of fate, it was the third time veteran gelding Comfort Me had run second in the Group 1 event. The gelding chased home Western Empire in 2021 and Trix Of The Trade in 2022 before running seventh behind Bustler last year. A noted pacemaker, Comfort Me ($41 TABtouch) began with his usual verve but was circumspectly handled by young jockey Holly Watson, electing instead to take a sit on Sydney speedster Belclare ($6.50). As Belclare’s rider Nash Rawiller steadied the tempo notably once finding the front, Port Lockroy ($11) whipped around to second place before he too took cover behind the progressing Socks Nation ($21). With such a gentle mid-race speed, it made the task of backmarkers nearly impossible, including well-tried $3.80 favourite Light Infantry Man who was caught in traffic. Rounding the turn at the 400m, Johnston-Porter whizzed Port Lockroy up three deep to chase after Belclare and Socks Nation, with Comfort Me blocked for a run behind them. By the 200m, Johnston-Porter had given full-bore command to Port Lockroy and the four-year-old had taken the front, while Comfort Me was finally getting onto the back of the new leader. But both Comfort Me and third-placed Super Smink ($8), who utterly rocketed from last on the bend, were left with too much to do behind Johnston-Porter who celebrated ecstatically by thrusting his whip high above over the final 20m.