| Watch Me Rock lived up to his status as race favourite with a dominant win in Saturday’s $1.5 million Group One Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot. |
| In completing a massive 40 minutes of big race success for graduates of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Watch Me Rock led home a 1-2 finish for the powerful training partnership of Grant and Alana Williams. Watch Me Rock was sent out the $3.30 favourite on the strength of a brilliant overall record and his last start win in the Group Three Asian Beau Stakes. After breaking positively from the barriers Watch Me Rock was able to settle one out, one back in fourth place before sprinting to the lead in the straight and comfortably holding out his stablemate Western Empire. “It’s a great result – first and second again,” co-trainer Grant Williams said. “I thought Pikey (jockey William Pike) was on the wrong one, but he’s right again.” “To run away from the other bloke (Western Empire) like he did, I just don’t know (what his top is).” “Credit to all my team – they picked it early,” Grant said of identifying Watch Me Rock early as a potential star. Alana Williams, a former star jockey who is a regular track rider was recently sidelined from the saddle with a broken thumb, but her absence from the saddle has seen other members of the stable step up. “They are just so good,” he said. “We are very lucky at home with our track riders and our staff – they are A-Graders.” Alana joined in the praise of the entire Williams Racing team. “I’ve got really good riders back at home,” she pointed out. “We’d lost nothing there.” “Credit must go to our apprentice Chanel Cooper – she’s ridden this horse since he was a baby and I can’t take any credit for this one, she’s done most of the work.” “This is very fulfilling. We’d had such long term plans with this horse and to win for clients who are so supportive – it’s fantastic.” Watch Me Rock was bred by Graham White and Ridegport’s Farm Manager Marge Ojapold and he was offered at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. Passed in for $37,500, with a modest $40,000 reserve, the son of Awesome Rock has become the most incredible flagbearer for the Ridgeport operation. As it stands with his 11 wins and six placings from just 19 lifetime starts, prizemoney earnings for the latest Group One star from the West has soared to over $1.5 million. The win of Watch Me Rock was the second time in three years the colours of well known breeder and owner Santo Guagliardo have raced to Railway Stakes glory following the success of Bustler two years ago. Just over half an hour earlier in the day raceday patrons were searching for superlatives after the sensational win of King of Light in the Group Two WA Guineas (1600m). A son of Earthlight, King of Light overcame traffic and tight runs to live up to his growing reputation with a barnstorming finish under William Pike. Trainer Dan Morton went to $120,000 at the 2024 Perth Yearling Sale to secure King of Light from the Amelia Park Racing and Breeding draft. Provided he pulls up well the unbeaten King of Light will start as favourite in the Group One Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in a fortnight. Champion local jockey William Pike, like he had to for today’s Railway, will be making another tough decision regarding his ride in the upcoming Northerly. Will it be Watch Me Rock or King of Light. Time will tell. Winner: Watch Me Rock Breeding: Awesome Rock-What Choux Want (Jimmy Choux) Race: WATC Railway Stakes G1 (1600m) Passed for: $37,500 Sale: 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale Earnings: $1,589,945 Breeder: Mr GN White Vendor: Ridgeport Holdings Reserve: $40,000 Owners: Ms M Ojapold, Ridgeport (Mgr: ES Guagliardo), B Gudjonsson & Miss A Blaskovic Trainers: Grant & Alana Williams (Karnup) |
