The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Willie timed it to perfection (image Western Racepix)
A frantic pace set by Declan Bates on London’s Image set the stage for Willie Pike to bring Storyville with a well-timed run from near the tail of the field.
The 3-year-old daughter of Overshare defeated The Merryman (Epaulette) by a short-neck with Olympic Park (Ocean Park) back in third.
Storyville has looked a different filly since learning to relax after she had been headstrong in her first few starts.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Storyville advances her record to four wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of $501,750
“I think she wasn’t the same horse as last week,” Pike said.
“She’s normally very bubbly, and I think that was only 80 to 90 per cent of what she is capable of.
Let the celebrations begin (image Western Racepix)
“Hopefully, they can pick her up and have a tilt at the Northerly.
“I thought she was a one-trick pony – straight to the front and lead; she has a massive stride and high head carriage, and I didn’t think she would be a horse to sit and find the line. I am happy to have been proven wrong.”
Good girl (image Western Racepix)
A half-sister to stakes-placed winners Crescent City (Fiorente) and Axeman's Jazz (Dundeel), Storyville was bred by her trainers. She is the fourth winner from five to race for the unraced Time Thief mare New Orleans, a half-sister to seven-time stakes winner Battle Hero (Stratum).
New Orleans has a yearling sister to Storyville and foaled a Toronado (IRE) filly on August 20.
Storyville is the second Group-winner, after Group 1 heroine Lady Laguna, for Widden Stud’s I Am Invincible stallion Overshare.
