Ascot, G2, Schweppes WATC Derby, $400,000, 2400m
Race Summary
Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) lived up to his pre-race favouritism and gave owner Bob Peters his 10th Western Australian Derby victory on Saturday.
The rising star made it four straight successes in the race for the combination of Peters, jockey William Pike and trainers Grant and Alana Williams, when he arrived with perfect timing to defeat Temptacion (All Too Hard), while Kerman Rock (Snippetson) just nabbed late to finish third.
Pike had settled the son of Iffraaj (GB) off the pace and brought him with a powerful late finish.
He has now won five of his 10 starts, including his last four at stakes level in succession. His prizemoney now stands at $581,050.
Pedigree notes
Western Empire is one of 76 stakes winners for former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj.
A homebred for Peters, he is out of G1 Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune {GB}), who has also produced the Listed Bunbury S. winner Western Temple (Dream Ahead {USA}) as well as two other winners.
She has two unraced brothers to Western Empire, a 2-year-old named Western Knight (NZ) and a colt foal, while she is in foal to Toronado (Ire).
Western Jewel is a half-sister to Listed winner Western Blaze (Hard Spun {USA}) and the stakes-placed Forceful (Hard Spun {USA}).
