The Byerley Park conditioner, who trains with his wife Dawn, produced the
daughter of Lope De Vega for an emphatic victory in the Superfence 2YO (1200m)
on Friday. "She's a lovely filly and I think we'll press on with her, she's got a bit of length and scope about her," Williams said.
Sent out favourite off the back of an impressive Avondale trial success, Spanish Whisper wasn't the quickest out of the barrier for rider Mark Du Plessis.
"She was a shade slow and that probably helped her," Williams said. "She settled nicely and I was a bit worried about how she would settle. She handled everything very well.
"Her trial win was nice and we wanted to give her another one at Waipa, but the track was fast so we didn't go there. This looked a nice race for her."
Du Plessis drew Spanish Whisper widest on straightening and she stretched out stylishly in the closing 250m to put the issue beyond doubt.
They had three lengths to spare on Imelda Mary at the finish with Peaceful back in third.
Raced by her breeders Daniel and Elias Nakhle and Darren Brady, she is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Cutting Remark.
From the family of seven-time Group One winner Rock Of Gibraltar, a yearling half-brother by Foxwedge will be offered as Lot 134 through the draft of Haunui Farm at the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. – NZ Racing Desk.
