The $1million Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes (1600m) has been won by some greats of the turf, including Northerly and Better Loosen Up, but none have started shorter than Western Empire, who made a one-act affair of the feature at Ascot on Saturday.
The east coast beckons for the Grant and Alana Williams -trained son of Iffraaj, who made it six consecutive stakes victories by defeating Comfort Me (Playing God) by four lengths with Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon) a further one and a half lengths back in third.
It was the fourth consecutive win in the race for connections after Galaxy Star (2018), Regal Power (2019), and Inspirational Girl (2020).
Regal Power made the trip east the following autumn to finish second in the Group 1 Australian Cup before downing his tablemate Superstorm in the $5million All-Star Mile. Those races look to be within the scope of Western Empire, which advances his record to seven wins, a second and three thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $1,264,000.
With no interstate horses in the field due to COVID restrictions, Bob Peters said it was hard to gauge how Western Empire would measure up against the best in the east.
“’ Wev’e always said it is a very hard race to win. It took a long time to win our first one (Old Comrade in 2001), a long time to our second one and we seem to have gotten the knack of it in the last few years,” Bob Peters said.
‘It is hard to tell just how good he is. He will meet the opposition at worse rates than he did today. But he did it quite well.
“I had a talk to William before the race, and we decided it was best to not get caught up on the fence and ride him a bit closer. It all worked out well.”
A half-brother to the stakes-winner Western Temple (Dream Ahead), Western Empire is the best of four winners from five to race out of the Group II WATC Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune).
Western Jewel has an unraced 2yo gelded brother to Western Empire named Western Jewel and a weanling brother to the Railway Stakes winner.
The daughter of Jeune returned to Australia from New Zealand last year. She was covered by Toronado (IRE) last spring and foaled a filly on October 7.
Western Empire becomes the eleventh Group 1 winner for Darley Stud’s Iffraaj who shuttled to Haunui Farm, New Zealand for eleven seasons, siring the likes of Turn Me Loose, Gingernuts and Jon Snow.
Iffraaj (GB) was replaced by his son Ribchester (IRE) at Hauni last year. Iffraaj’s star son Wootton Bassett (IRE) is serving a quality book of mares at Coolmore, and the top-class Jungle Cat (IRE) is available to breeders at Telemon Thoroughbreds and has his first yearlings on offer in the new year.
