Thursday’s Northam meeting looked a low-key affair for Grant and Alana Williams until they prepared a double with late bloomer Trio (Maschino) and Ridgeport Farm homebred Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock).
Team Williams topped the WA trainers’ premiership with 106 wins in 2023-24 and they’re off to a flying start this season with 6 wins in 8 days. Tiger Line (Hellbent) opened their account on August 1 and his stablemates Cruise To Victory (Lucky Street), Sentimental Belle (Nicconi) and Captain Pluto (Savabeel) followed up with a treble at Belmont last Saturday.
Watch Me Rock (Photo / Western Racepix) had won the Lexus Of Perth Hcp (1400m) at Ascot in May and he returned from a spell to score first-up for stable apprentice Chanel Cooper in the Avon Valley. “That was his second win in six starts and he’s only ever been out of the money once,” Team Williams reported.
“Chanel teamed up with Watch Me Rock and duplicated the winning (CJP) ride on Trio.”
Watch Me Rock is a 4yo son of Gold Front sire Awesome Rock and his dam What Choux Want was the first winner for Jimmy Choux (NZ) at Hastings in October 2015. He initially stood at Rich Hill Stud in NZ before transferring to Roselee Stud in Serpentine.
What Choux Want also transferred to Australia in May 2017 and is now owned by Ridgeport Farm manager Marje Ojapold. She races Watch Me Rock in a partnership that includes Ridgeport Farm owner Santo Guagliardo.
The mare’s 3yo filly Wotugot (Rommel) was runner-up to Madhi Girl on debut during an initial prep earlier this year and her yearling is another Rommel filly.
Meanwhile, Ridgeport Farm 3yo filly Kuroyanagi (Written Tycoon) could race second-up in the G3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield next Saturday, August 17.
She resumed with a pleasing second in the LR Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville last month and co-trainer Niki O’Shea reports the stable was delighted with that performance. “The winner Lingani has been running all winter and is hard fit and the ground wasn’t exactly what she was looking for but she handled it all right.”
Kuroyanagi was Group 1-placed in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February. “It was such a vintage season of juveniles,” O’Shea added. “We can’t hide our excitement and just want to get a black-type win next to her name.”
