Saturday Summary: Watch Me Rock rockets home in Railway

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix

Watch Me Rock gets the job done for Williams and Pike

The G1 Railway Stakes demonstrated that local form matters most. Jockey William Pike had a double on the card heading into the race and trainers Grant and Alana Williams had enjoyed the trifecta in the Listed AJ Cahill Stakes earlier on the card.

The favourite, last start G3 Asian Beau Stakes winner Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock) swept around the outside of the front running Comfort Me (Playing God) to take the lead for Pike. It was his sixth victory in the Group 1 race. Stablemate Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who won this race in 2021, tracked behind Watch Me Rock and tried hard for second, beaten by three-quarters of a length. Peter Fernie-trained Sentimental Hero (Al Maher) was the same distance back in third.

“It was a good result. I thought Pike was on the wrong one, and then it worked out better for the stable for him to ride Watch Me Rock,” said Grant Williams.

“We probably put too much pressure on ourselves, especially wanting to win this. We wanted to get that Group 1. We won the Gold Rush, we won the Perth Cup, but we hadn’t won a Group 1 and we’ve done that now.

“For him to run away from the other bloke like that, I don’t know (how much more he can be). Credit to Pike, credit to Lans (Alana), credit to all my staff. They picked him pretty early.” Alana has missed trackwork lately with a broken thumb.

“When it happened, she was devo obviously. We are lucky with our riders we have at home, they are all a-graders, and I said to Lans, so what, I wish I’d broken my thumb!”

This was the sixth G1 Railway for the Williams team. “This is our best one. We are public trainers now, and we’ve had so much support over the last three years, and to get back to where we were. A lot of people said that without Peters we were nobody but we are going good.”

Watch Me Rock becomes the first Group 1 winner for his sire Awesome Rock, a Group 1 winning son of Fastnet Rock who covered only 34 mares in 2024. Awesome Rock has six stakes winners from small crops.

Watch Me Rock has won 11 of his 19 starts with earnings over $1.5 million.

Sale info: Bred by GN White, Watch Me Rock was passed in by Ridgeport Holdings at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Pedigree notes: The first live foal of What Choux Want (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), Watch Me Rock is sibling to a Rommel 2-year-old filly, Long Leaf yearling colt, and Maschino filly foal. What Choux Want was a good juvenile, running third in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and second in the Listed Welcome Stakes.

She is a half-sister to G2 Cal Isuzu Stakes winner and G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes-placed Belle Du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who also placed in the G1 Levin Classic.

Gringotts goes back-to-back in ‘The Gong’

Going back-to-back in the $3 million Big Dance wasn’t enough for the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) - the talented gelding decided to make it consecutive wins in the $1 million The Gong as well, completing a remarkable double in 2024 and 2025.

On a track that had deteriorated badly in inclement weather, jockey Nash Rawiller produced one of his trademark brave rides, electing to stay inside while most of the field swung wide.

There was plenty of speed throughout, with all jockeys using much of the Kembla Grange turf. Gringotts travelled well mid-field with cover, and Rawiller’s decision to stick near the rail proved decisive as the field spread out.

The son of Per Incanto (USA) looked in trouble at several stages, but his class shone through as he held off the out wide fast-finishing Estadio Mestalla (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) by just under half a length, with New Endeavour (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) a further two lengths away in third.

‘The Gong’ is among several races Racing NSW has proposed for an upgrade to black type, though this has yet to be ratified by the Asian Pattern Committee, so the race currently remains without group status under International Stud Book rules.

When asked about Rawiller's tactics. "He said he walked the track four times, and he was keen to stay in. I was like, 'righto'," Maher said.

"You have to (back him). He's walked it four times, I haven't walked it once.

"He had a lot of faith in the horse. I was keen for Nash to stick with him and he's just a beauty. He puts himself on speed, he makes his own luck.

Rawiller was thrilled his judgment paid off.

“You’ve got to back your judgement,” he said. “But when they all went to the outside so quick, I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’ve done the wrong thing here.’

“But I was still confident that if I stayed patient, went through my gears and kept the horse building under me, that there’d be something there at the 100m. There really had to be.

“He’s a warrior. He’s such a good horse. I really loved that win. It was very thrilling.”

Sales info: Gringotts was a NZ$100,000 purchase from Book 1 of the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, then was passed in when offered with a NZ$450,000 reserve at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. He was later a private purchase for Maher and connections.

Pedigree info: Gringotts’ dam Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel) is a half-sister to the dam of G2 Wellington Guineas winner Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir), and is out of a half-sister to the dam of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}). She has a Proisir 2-year-old filly and a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) yearling colt to come, and is due to foal to Per Incanto (USA) this season.

Day of cosmic proportions for Peters

The dominant three length victory of 5-year-old gelding Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the Listed Carbine Club Of WA Stakes capped off a race-to-race treble for prominent owner Bob Peters who won race four on the card with 3-year-old gelding Westbound (Toronado {Ire}), and race five with 6-year-old mare Noteworthy (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). It was also a treble for trainer Michael Grantham, who trained the Peters trio.

“It’s good because the horse is learning how to race and learning how to settle. He was a lot better in the run today and it’s good for the future,” said Peters.

“Set weights and penalties was an easy run for him. Yes, (the G1 Northerly) is where he’ll head if he gets a start.”

Cosmic Crusader has won seven of his 15 starts and over $410,000. He was also accepted for the G1 Railway Stakes on the same card, but didn't make the field.

Sale info: Bred and raced by Peters Investments.

Pedigree notes: The first live foal of Cosmic Storm (Street Sense {USA}) who won seven races for Bob Peters including the G3 La Trice Classic, Listed WA Oaks, and two other Listed races. Her other winner is 4-year-old mare Cosmic Spirit who has won twice, while she has a 2-year-old full brother to Cosmic Crusader named Cosmic Icon. Sadly her 2024 foal was still born and she missed after that.

Cosmic Storm is a half-sister to G1 Cantala Stakes winner Superstorm (Sebring), and Listed Burgess Queen Stakes winner Mikimoto (Sebring, as well as being a full sister to Listed WATC Tattersall's Cup winner Royal Command. Her dam is G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes winner Stormy Nova (Metal Storm {Fr}).

Simply surprises in Listed AJ Scahill Cup

The mighty West Australian stable of Grant and Alana Williams had three runners in the Listed AJ Scahill Cup and they duly ran out the trifecta in a blanket finish with one length covering the first five horses home. Punters had selected last start Listed winner Captain Pluto (NZ) (Savabeel) as the $2.15 favourite, however he was nabbed on the line by Simply (Domesday). Third went to stablemate Buckets Ridge (Pride Of Dubai).

“I thought his couple of runs this time in had been great. We’re heading him towards the Perth Cup and he was aided by an unbelievable ride by Freddy (Kersley),” said Grant Williams.

“The whole family have been hard work, but they have good engines. It does help, and you put up with that when they are like that. It’s great to see him doing this. This time last year we were running out of beans with him as we were trying to qualify, but this year we can plan a path for him.”

Simply hadn’t won since last spring, where he won three in succession in September and October 2024. He wasn’t completely out of form with a last start second, however, punters felt he was only a $26 chance. It was the first black type win for the 5-year-old gelding, who took his earnings over $380,000 with six wins from 25 starts.

Sale info: Simply is bred and raced by P Griffin, Travis Sheehy, Peter Bell, and Jason Carone.

Pedigree notes: He becomes stakes winner number 21 for Domesday. Simply is the third stakes winner for Canny Lassie (Canny Lad) who also produced Simply’s full brother Listed Boulder Cup winner Villeins, and half-brother Listed Lex Piper Stakes winner Too Soon (Charge Forward).

Canny Lassie was unplaced in six starts, and had a colt foal by Officiating (USA) this spring. Her stakes placed half-sister See A Victory (Mister C {USA}) is the dam of G1 Coolmore Classic winner Daysee Doom (Domesday) who in turn is the dam of this season’s Listed Dulcify Stakes-placed Ruination (Wootton Bassett {GB}). This is also the family of Kermadec (NZ).

Jigsaw strikes in the $1 million Meteorite

The electric Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) has been in sensational form this preparation, and his win in the $1 million Meteorite marked his third consecutive victory for the evergreen 7-year-old gelding trained by Cindy Alderson.

Blessed with brilliant gate speed, Jigsaw showed it in the hands of talented apprentice Logan Bates, taking up the running with ease. He didn’t take it easy, with Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) pressing from outside and favourite Hedged (Capitalist) settled fourth with cover.

As often happens at Cranbourne, the leaders kicked strongly, but Arkansaw Kid couldn’t reel in the flying Jigsaw, who proved too strong, winning by three-quarters of a length. Arkansaw Kid battled well for second, while the brave Zou Sensation (Zoustar) ran solidly to finish just over another length behind in third.

The victory was a huge moment for the local connections, celebrated by the enthusiastic crowd and a visibly emotional Cindy Alderson.

“I can't really believe it to be honest, especially with everyone around me today,” Alderson said.

“My dad's here, so is my mum, my sister and her children. It's a real family affair.

“That's how we got started in the game. Logan is like family to me, he's been with me all along and all my staff are like family, so it's a really proud moment.”

Alderson credited a good spell for helping the sprinter return in peak condition.

“He did have a lovely spell, and I think that got him back in really great shape,” she said.

“He's enjoying himself, he's got his confidence right up and he and Logan are the new combination.”

Sales info: Jigsaw is a homebred for her trainer Cindy Alderson, and he is raced by her and Mr M C Price.

Pedigree info: Jigsaw is the second stakes performer from metropolitan-winning Lonhro mare Demandz, who has also produced Listed Tasmanian Oaks runner-up Queen Adele (Adelaide {Ire}). This is the extended family of dual Group 1 winner Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) through shared ancestress Black Satin (Ire) (Linacre {Ire}).