Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
It was a daunting time for Grant and Alana Williams in early 2022, as they split away from a successful partnership with Bob Peters and branched out into a public training model. It was very much a case of new beginnings and starting from scratch, yet they have built quickly, and their first Group 1 win on Saturday with Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock) vindicated the decision - and whetted the appetite for more.
“It would be great if we could pull off one of them each year,” Williams said jokingly, summarising what was a fantastic day for himself, co-trainer and wife Alana Williams, and the rest of the team.
Watch Me Rock an all-round Group 1 result for the locals
The team felt a strong sense of pride when Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock) achieved his deserved Group 1 breakthrough, and the first Group 1 for his West Australian-based sire - Watch Me Rock has been a horse blessed with talent but not always the easiest to manage, which added to the satisfaction.
“He was quite hard to handle on the ground as a younger horse, you couldn't tie him up, and you just had to walk him," co-trainer Grant Williams said.
“Willy (William Pike) always said he was a nice horse, take your time, and even he would walk him around, and I haven't seen Willy lead too many around at the stables.”
William Pike | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He has a great record but he was a little frustrating early doing things wrong, or not quite finishing off, but he kept progressing and blinkers did help him.
“He is likely to head to The Northerly now.”
“The result was great for the locals, the state, Sue (Sue Olive) and the team that stand Awesome Rock, especially heading into the sales, and great for us to get the Group 1, and he is not finished yet, he is an exciting horse.”
“The result was great for the locals, the state, Sue (Sue Olive) and the team that stand Awesome Rock, especially heading into the sales, and great for us to get the Group 1.” - 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.”
The win was made even sweeter when Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) - the 2021 G1 Railway winner - charged home into second.
“He won the Railway in the last carnival we had with Bob (Bob Peters). He has amazing longevity, and we were really glad to acquire him about two years ago, and he has picked up about $1.8 million in that time.”
With both horses heading toward the G1 Northerly Stakes, the prospect of another quinella isn’t far-fetched.
“His run was enormous and if anything may have been one run short, so that gives us a little confidence going into the Northerly. While Watch Me Rock obviously should be hard to beat.”
A Listed AJ Scahill Cup trifecta adds to a huge day
Earlier on Railway Stakes day at Ascot, the Williams stable swept the Listed AJ Scahill Cup, finishing first, second and third with Simply (Domesday), Captain Pluto (NZ) (Savabeel) and Buckets Ridge (Pride Of Dubai).
“Fred gave Simply an incredible ride, it really was a 12 out of 10 ride, Captain Pluto was brave and it was great to see Buckets Ridge bounce back to form,” Williams said.
When the field straightened, Williams quickly realised the stable held the upper hand.
“I was watching Captain (Captain Pluto), but I could see Simply charging, so in the end it was an easy watch.”
All three now look exciting potential G2 Perth Cup prospects.
“They all look chances in the Cup, there is a bit of water to go under the bridge yet, but they were all nice trials, we also have the up-and-comer Fun Chal, who will run in an 1800-metre race this weekend and the current Perth Cup winner Hemlock Stone will go the weight-for-age path once more, but come Cup time he could be a chance.
“It is exciting times ahead, to have numbers and quality, we have the horse flesh so let's see what happens there.”
The start of 2022 is when the Williams partnership went all in
In early 2022, Grant and Alana Williams reverted to a public training model after years of significant success as private trainers for Bob Peters. The shift was both daunting and exciting - a genuine fresh start.
Alana and Grant Williams | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It was daunting for a start, we saw our numbers go from about 50-60 down to 8 horses, and in simple terms, we went from having a good handful of superstars and promising horses to a small batch of country or provincial horses.
“We did have great support to help build back up, Alsephina got the ball rolling for us and we also had Casino Seventeen win a Perth Cup for us. In fact you could probably say that we didn't think we would get back to this size and going so well, so quickly.”
“We did have great support to help build back up, Alsephina got the ball rolling for us and we also had Casino Seventeen win a Perth Cup for us.” - Grant Williams
“The timing worked well, on the back of them and Alsephina performing in the East, we developed and grew quickly.
“The business model is working, and we're loving it.”
Further investment in new stock
The Williams team had long been active at yearling sales, but their approach shifted markedly as they rebuilt the stable.
“We had always bought yearlings but not to the extent we do now. I think we ended up with about 30-35 purchases last year. It is a hectic schedule with the Perth Carnival ending in early January, then the sales circuit coming around quickly, and especially if planning a raid on Melbourne in the Autumn.”
“We had always bought yearlings but not to the extent we do now. I think we ended up with about 30-35 purchases last year.” - Grant Williams
“We do love it, though, we probably love it more now, and we love to celebrate and have beer.”
The increased investment has added depth, opportunity and variety to their stable - and they’re enjoying the journey.
Syndication and changing nature of ownership
The public model has also broadened their ownership base significantly, and it sure makes a change from being a private trainer for one person, to a trainer with more than 400 owners on the books.
“We have a really broad base of owners, and all sorts at every end of the market, I guess,” Williams said.
“We have our set owners for the more expensive ones, a good handful of loyal ones that have been with us for over 20 years.
“Lots of little syndicates that get together and split a 5% share, a few ways, and every year we get new owners that may take 5% in a horse, which is brilliant.
“I would say syndications now probably hold up to 90% of our owners and we probably have about 400-odd on our books.
“I would say syndications now probably hold up to 90% of our owners and we probably have about 400 odd on our books.” - Grant Williams
“It’s great, but it means you have to stay on top of all the updates and keeping owners in the loop, but that is part of the business.”
Williams also feels that the stable have an advantage over others with their well-established and long running link with Perth's Champion jockey William Pike. A jockey well reverred by punters and owners alike, especially in the last at Ascot on a Saturday!
“I think it also attracts owners - the relationship and link we have with William Pike, they know the system works, and also they know I like a beer and the social side, they know how we go about things, and it all seems to work.”
A result for the locals, Awesome Rock and Gold Front
As the only stallion standing at Alan and Sue Olive’s Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding in Western Australia, Awesome Rock’s first Group 1 success as a stallion was a deeply personal moment for Sue Olive.
“It was a very good result on Saturday, it was something that any stallion owner dreams about, especially to have bred him, raced him and now stand him at stud.
“The stallion (Awesome Rock) has been doing very well, but to get the Group 1 over the line was very satisfying.”
Awesome Rock has the very tidy record of having sired 69 winners from 121 to race at a winners-to-runners ratio of 57%, and he has produced six stakes winners at 5% stakes winners-to-runners and a nice 9.9% stakes-performers-to-runners.
Awesome Rock | Standing at Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding
His progeny have now run prestigious Western Australian races such as the G1 Northerly Stakes, G3 Asian Beau Stakes, G2 West Australian Derby, G3 Champion Fillies' Stakes, G3 Western Australian Oaks, and the Listed Northam Cup, among others.
There was also some drama in Awesome Rock's racing career. He was a vindicated winner of the 2016 G1 Mackinnon Stakes, earlier that season he lost the G1 Australian Cup in the stewards’ room to Preferment (NZ), the son of Fastnet Rock got his deserved maiden Group 1 win, but should he have been a dual Group 1 winner?
For those closest to him, the win was profoundly meaningful - a long-awaited reward for his ability and persistence, and a key milestone that helped secure his future at stud in Western Australia.
Olive reflected on how the Group 1-winning entire - bred by them - ended up at their farm.
“He was going to head over to Dubai towards the end of his racing career, and he actually got really sick. The ownership and training group thought that it was probably the best idea for him to retire to stud, so Stan (Stan Saric), Allan and myself decided we would have a crack, which I always intended to do and bought out our other owners and home he came.
“It was great that Stan stayed in him and supported him with some mares, he served about 60-odd mares the first couple of years, and then it has dropped off a little bit.
“I get that everyone likes the new kids on the block and there was a bit of an influx around then of new Western Australian stallions.”
Sue and Alan Olive | Image courtesy of Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding
Interest has surged again since the weekend’s Railway win.
“There have been quite a few people ringing since Saturday, with a handful making bookings for the late part of this year and enquiring about next year, so that will help build a bit of momentum. He is sitting around 60 this season with a few more to come.”
Olive is buoyed by the pipeline of talent still to come.
“He has some nice progeny coming through. Rock Fest ran a lovely third in the Guineas on Saturday, Red Sun Sensation keeps doing the job. So he is building nicely.
“Stan owned the dam of Watch Me Rock, and ended up passing it on to one of the young girls and her mate that used to work here. He’s kicking himself a bit now, but she has been a good producer.”
