Patinack Farm’s frustrating run in Group One races ended in spectacular style at Ascot today when quality performer Gathering won the $1 million Group One Railway Stakes (1600m).

The talented gelding, a graduate of the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, cruised home in the day’s feature event to win by over two lengths.

Gathering was one of two runners saddled up by Patinack Farm trainer John Thompson in the Railway – the other Trusting dead heated for sixth placing.

“A fantastic ride,” Thompson said of Craig Williams’ handling of the four-year-old. “The win is well deserved – he’s an old iron horse.”

“It’s sad that the other one (Trusting) didn’t run so well – but full credit to the team, they’ve done a great job.”

“We peaked them in Melbourne and to get them up again here is fantastic.”

Gathering has raced against some of the country’s top racehorses – having competed at the highest level in Sydney and Melbourne prior to crossing the Nullarbor.

At two he placed in a VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and at three he filled a placing in a Spring Champion Stakes, Gloaming Stakes and Norman Robinson Stakes.

During the spring carnival he notched a breakthrough success in the listed Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington.

“He’s been racing at the top level for all of his career. And he really deserves one – he’s such an honest horse,” Thompson said.

“He got a nice cheap sectional running into the corner and he was able to then pinch a break and that’s what he did at Flemington and that’s the way to ride him.”

“Eleven out of ten for the ride – a good job.”

“He was always travelling. His work here on Tuesday was fantastic and that augered well for today.”

The win capped a big day for Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm Racing Syndicate following earlier wins in Adelaide and at the Gold Coast.

“The team is doing a great job across all the states – that’s the fourth winner today in a third state.”

“You can only do it with good people around and full credit to them,” he summed up.

Winning rider Craig Williams said Gathering’s performance was first class – giving his rivals no chance of success with a powerful on speed performance.

“Today Gathering was supreme,” Williams said. “He really enjoyed himself.”

“He got to the front. He relaxed and when I asked him to be strong and tough he was that today.”

Williams said there was no use a rival attempting to take him on the lead – saying that would have brought them undone.

“He’s one of those horses that if you want to attack him you have to be big and tough to go with him.”

“Today he was really happy and comfortable and he had good acceleration toward the end,” Williams added.

Magic Millions graduates excelled in Western Australia’s feature event – with star local galloper Famous Roman turning in one of the performances of the day to finish second from back in the field.

The $75,000 Perth Yearling Sale graduate has a half brother being prepared by Dawson Stud for February’s 2011 Belmont Park based auction.

Gathering, a member of the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, becomes yet another Group One winner for one of the best thoroughbred families.

His dam Celebria, who won in Sydney and was fourth in a listed Queen Adelaide Stakes is a Peintre Celebre half sister to Murjana – being a daughter of Twyla.

A Sydney winning daughter of Danehill, Twyla is a daughter of Dancing Show – making her a three quarter sister to the outstanding Group One winning sires Al Maher, Platinum Scissors.

She is also a half sister to Hurricane Sky and Umatilla as well as the dam of Manhattan Rain.

Gathering is the third Australian bred Group One winner for Storm Cat’s group winning son Tale of the Cat. He follows in the hoofsteps of Glamour Puss and Tell a Tale to win at racing’s elite level.

Last Sunday Tell a Tale ran a slashing second in the Group One Singapore Gold Cup at Kranji.

Winner: Gathering (Tale of the Cat-Celebria)
Race: WATC Railway Stakes G1 (1600m)
Passed for: $260,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Coolmore Stud (As Agent)
Reserve: $350,000
Earnings: $986,275
Owner(s): Patinack Farm Racing Syndicate (Mgr: N Tinkler)
Trainer: John Thompson (Flemington)