One race after taking his number of wins in the WA Guineas to six, Willie Pike claimed his sixth win in the $1.5 million Group 1 Railway Stakes when guiding the Grant and Alana Williams trained Watch Me Rock to a 0.75 length victory over his stable-mate Western Empire.
Watch Me Rick, who was making it back-to-back wins after taking out the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes in his last start, settled in third, then fourth spot in the first half of the contest, racing together, but just to the outside of Western Empire and a little over two lengths off the speed as Comfort Me led the way.
The two stable companions made their move together coming off the home turn, but Watch Me Rock, courtesy of a wider and clearer passage, got first run on Western Empire early in the home straight and, once Watch Me Rock took the measure of Comfort Me with 150m left to run, there was always only going to be one winner, although Western Empire never gave up the fight, chasing the winner hard all the way to the line.
It was, in fact, a huge effort from Western Empire who carried 4kg more than Watch Me Rock for only that 0.75 length deficit.
“First and second … and Pikey’s got it right again,” said co-trainer Grant Williams. “I honestly thought he was on the wrong one.”
Pike, as usual though, knew what he was doing.
“I suppose at this stage of my career I judge myself on how I perform in the big races. It’s been a few years since I won a Group 1. I find it hard to say you are the best if you are not winning Group 1’s,’ said Pike, “so I’m the best this week, anyway.”
“I landed in prime position. I didn’t expect to be that close. I didn’t expect to hit the front that soon.
“Credit to the horse. Credit to the team. They turn them out for these big races like nobody else can.”
Watch Me Rick’s win was also Grant and Alana’s sixth success in the race.
