19th SW For Harry Angel

Dane Squance - Saturday April 26

Having finished just over a length and three quarters off Group 1 winner Asfoora (Flying Artie) last start in the Group 3 SAJC R N Irwin Stakes (1100m), it was no surprise to see Watchme Win (Harry Angel) jump away the race favourite in the Group 3 SAJC John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.

Settling behind the leaders in the run, the Andrew Gluyas trained 4yo darted back towards the inside rail where he extended like a good horse, hitting the lead before pulling away under Jason Holder to record success, with last Saturday’s Listed Railway Stakes winner Volcanic Express (Hualalai) working home to finish a length and quarter off the winner in second.

Watchme Win - purchased for $160,000 from the Noorilm Park draft (as agent for Mill Park)

Never further back than fifth in his ten starts highlight by five victories, the gelding only made his racetrack debut back in July 2024, and Group 3 success has earned him a possible shot at the Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap on May 10.

“He’s come such a long way in basically 12 months of racing now five wins from 10 starts and I guess he's booked himself a spot in the Group 1 Goodwood,” enthused Gluyas post-race. “We dreamt of that at the start of this preparation and today he's booked himself there, and it was a dominant run and a good win.”

“He had a significant injury, which just needed time. And when time ticks, you don't know what will happen. And so, then we had a long rehab to get him back and now he’s racing well. He looks like he has an absolute thirst for racing. And he’s a strong sprinter.”

Advertisement

Consigned through the Noorilim Park draft at the Inglis Premier yearling sale as agent for Mill Park, Watchme Win was knocked down to his trainer for $160,000. One of two winners from two to the track for the winning Sepoy mare Watchmespin, Watchme Win is a half-brother to Bjorn Baker’s three-time winner Point And Shoot (Blue Point).

From the extended family of Group 1-winning Mill Park graduates Run Fox Run (Foxwedge) and Serious Speed (Royal Academy), Watchmespin has a yearling full sister to Watchme Win followed by a weanling filly by Street Boss.

Watchme Win is the 19th stakes winner for Darley's Harry Angel

Bred by Harry Perks, as is the fellow Mill Park yearling sale graduate, the Group 2 Autumn Stakes winner Angel Capital (Harry Angel), Watchme Win is one of 19 stakes winners led by Group 1 winners Tom Kitten and Private Harry for Darley’s Word Champion Sprinter Harry Angel, who will stand the upcoming breeding season for a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) at Darley Kelvinside.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet John Hawkes Stakes Gr3 1100m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.81
1
Watchme Win
- 4g Harry Angel (IRE) x Watchmespin (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: A J Gluyas Rdr: J Holder 54
2
1.3
Volcanic Express
- 5g Hualalai (AUS) x Rugged Angel (AUS) (Time Thief (AUS))
Tnr: D R Jolly Rdr: J Potter 54.5
3
2.2
Press Down
- 5g Press Statement (AUS) x Down The Corridor (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Hardacre Rdr: Rochelle Milnes 57
4
2.8
Manolo Bling
- 3f Grunt (NZ) x Evening Slippers (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 54.5
5
3.2
Karacasu
- 6g Headwater (AUS) x Miss Cooper (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Zac Spain 54
6
3.4
Ghalib
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Caveat (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor Rdr: M Nunes 58.5
7
4.1
Cool Magnum
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Molto Bella (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: J Hickmott & C Riggs Rdr: Ms E Finnegan 54
8
4.7
Sans Doute
- 5m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x My Prerogative (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
9
5
Validated
- 5g Valentia (AUS) x Castano Girl (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: Peter & Belinda Blanch Rdr: Kayla Crowther 54
10
7
La Defense
- 5g Capitalist (AUS) x Bleue Pepite (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: W Clarken & N O'Shea Rdr: Ben Price 54
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.