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Railway trick in mind again

Mr Moet is a chance to start first-up in the Railway Stakes in November. Pic: Getty Images

Mr Moet could head into the $1 million Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 22 first-up.

Trainer Adam Durrant is toying with the idea of adopting the same bold approach with Mr Moet that netted him the Group 1 feature in 2012.

Mr Moet became the first horse to win the Railway first-up since Beau Temps in 1951 when he held off Luckygray in 2012.

He was then runner-up to Luckygray in the Kingston Town Classic, won the CB Cox Stakes and finished second to Talent Show in the Perth Cup.

The outstanding campaign prompted Durrant to head to Melbourne where Mr Moet ran third to All Too Hard in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m), second to Foreteller in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and sixth to Super Cool in the Australian Cup (2000m).

Durrant considered running the seven-year-old in last Saturday's weight-for-age Goodwood Sprint, but decided to delay a start until racing returns to Ascot in mid-October.

"He is going along really well so my fingers are crossed he can come back to life like he did a few seasons ago," Durrant said.

"His heart rate is the same and he is keen to do his work. I brought him in early to keep out of the winter weather.

"He will have two trials before he starts and he could go first-up into the Railway again or he might have a run in the Lee-Steere Stakes a fortnight before.

"He had a few niggling issues in Melbourne in the spring and he finished like a bullet in the Railway when he did not get the run Luckygray did."

Durrant has fellow veteran Ranger back in work for what will be a fifth straight campaign aimed at the Railway and Kingston Town.

The enigmatic galloper has won more than $700,000 in his 37-start career.

"He spelled really well at Yalebra Stud and is looking good back in work," Durrant said.

"I will need to discuss with Bob (Peters) where we will start with him, but he does go really fresh over 1400m."