LEADING Perth jockey William Pike believes local star Marasco has the home-town horses covered in Saturday's $1 million Railway Stakes.

The 22-year-old fears only the interstate gallopers, including Gai Waterhouse's Bank Robber, Mudgee marauder Sniper's Bullet and Victorians like Rightfully Yours, Annenkov and Pillar Of Hercules.

Southern trainer David Hayes has Perth Cup-bound The Fuzz lining up with stablemate Niconero, which finished third in the group 1 event two years ago. "He [Marasco] probably leads our charge from WA," Pike said. "I think he is going good enough and has the quality to win the race."

In five years of riding Pike is yet to win the Railway, but the youngster has already claimed the WA Derby twice and a Perth Cup.

Pike has ridden in the Railway three times.

His best effort was a third on Blinded three years ago when the race was taken out by Covertly, which was ridden by Lucas Camilleri who rides Beat The Storm at the weekend.

"This is one of the best Railway fields since I've been riding," Pike said. "The money and the horses are here and it won't be easy to win. A bit of luck in running and I think my horse will be hard to hold out.

"Most of those horses coming across here haven't had a start leading into this, it is hard to line them up."

Marasco steamed home to win the Lee Steere Stakes last time out but faces a daunting challenge to win the Railway with 57.5 kilograms.

No horse has won with that weight or more since 1967 when Tudor Mark carried 61kg a year after winning with 49kg.

Pike is not concerned about Marasco's weight nor barrier 14 in a field of 16. "The horse relaxes and has a sharp turn of foot," he said.

Marasco is prepared by Fred Kersley, who won the race with his dual Cox Plate winner Northerly in 2000. The West Australian horseman will also start Grand Nirvana, which is out to become the first three-year-old since Jungle Dawn in 1987 to win the feature.