Western Australia's premier racing combination has done it again, with Watch Me Rock delivering a stunning victory in the Group 1 $1.5 million Swan Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
A Perfect Ride Seals the Deal
Jockey William Pike executed a flawless strategy aboard the $3.40 favourite, positioning Watch Me Rock perfectly in the one-out, one-back spot behind stablemate Western Empire. As the field turned for home, Pike peeled wide and unleashed the three-year-old, who showed an electric turn of foot to seize the lead.
Despite a strong challenge from the 2021 champion Western Empire, who carried a hefty 58kg, the lightly-weighted Watch Me Rock (54kg) powered away to win by three-quarters of a length.
Pike's Crucial Choice Pays Off
The victory was particularly sweet for Pike, who had been forced to choose between the two stablemates weeks in advance. His decision to partner with Watch Me Rock proved inspired, though co-trainer Grant Williams admitted he initially had doubts.
"First and second, Pikey's got it right again. I thought he was on the wrong one," Williams confessed. "I honestly thought he was on the wrong one. But it actually worked out better for the stable him to ride Watch Me Rock."
A Landmark Victory for the Williams Team
This Railway Stakes win holds special significance for training partners Grant and Alana Williams. While Pike had previously won five Railways with them when they trained for Bob Peters, this marks their sixth victory and their first major Group 1 success since branching out on their own three years ago.
"We wanted to get that Group 1 (on our own)," Grant Williams said. "We won the Gold Rush and the Perth Cup, but you haven't won a Group 1. We've won a Group 1 now. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's my best one."
The win served as validation for the training duo, with Williams adding: "A lot of people thought without Peters, you're nobody. But we are. We go good."
The victory came despite a significant setback when Alana Williams, an integral part of the training operation, broke her finger during the crucial lead-up period. Grant praised their team's resilience, calling his staff "A-graders" who stepped up when needed.
What's Next for the Champions?
The performance establishes Watch Me Rock as a rising star in WA racing, particularly given he defeated the established champion Western Empire despite being three years younger.
Attention now turns to the upcoming Northerly Stakes (1800m) in a fortnight, where Pike faces another difficult choice between Watch Me Rock ($7), Western Empire ($5.50), and King Of Light ($2.70 favourite), whom he guided to victory in the WA Guineas earlier on the same card.
"It's not easy at all," Pike admitted about his upcoming decision. "I love the way Watch Me Rock just put himself in the race; he just always travelled like a winner. But then you look at the three-year-olds. They've got an enormous record in the Northerly, so there'll be a few sleepless nights."
The champion jockey, who described himself as "hungry for a winner", will ride at Bunbury the following day, demonstrating the relentless drive that has made him WA's most successful jockey.
