Saturday’s first metro meeting of the season produced several smart winners but Godspeed stood out like a beacon on a winter afternoon at Belmont.
Godspeed (3g Playing God – Cascada by Lonhro) toyed with his rivals in the Wittens Irrigation Plate (1300m) while being eased down by Clint Johnston-Porter to score by two lengths from Head And Shoulders (Headwater) and Western Splendour (Splintex).
Sold by Mungrup breeder Gray Williamson for $170,000 to Gangemi Racing at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions, he was a good thing beaten on debut last month and made amends with a performance that suggests he’s on track for the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot in November.
“He was massive first-up and did everything but win,” Michael Gangemi said. “He tramped wide and was run down late by They’reallsisters (Splintex). He could run through a brick wall so we left it to Clint today.
“He will go to the paddock now and will continue to grow and strengthen. I can’t wait to get him back for the WA Guineas and the carnival.”
CJP looks at the infield screen while gearing down on Godspeed / Photo: Western Racepix
Playing God (Blackfriars) won the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) in 2010 and Williamson stood him in the Great Southern until 2020. He bred Godspeed from Cascada who had been purchased from Gooree Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
Cascada was a proven broodmare and Williamson bought her carrying Sandown Lakeside winner Warrior Smile (Saxon Warrior). Godspeed is her final foal and he can add black-type to a pedigree highlighted by second-dam Before Too Long (G2 MVRC Champagne Stakes) and her brother Bon Hoffa (G1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes).
The $500,000 WA Guineas will also be targeted by the Williamson-bred Afireofgidgeecoals (Too Darn Hot) who won the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) in April.
Afireofgidgeecoals is trained by Dan Morton for Queenslander Shane Stafford and was sold through the Mungrup consignment for $180,000 at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions. He’s the ninth individual winner from nine foals out of Caiguna (Dubai Destination) who won a LR Natasha Stakes (2200m) in 2012.
Meanwhile, Williamson has been busy promoting his new stallion Straight Charge who will cover his first book for a $6,600 (inc GST) fee at Westbury Park this season.
Straight Charge (Written By) paraded at the Bunbury races on Thursday, his third race-day appearance in a week, and Westbury Park owner Phil Ibbotson reports he took them all in his stride as well as impressing breeders at the stud’s open day last weekend.
The latest Straight Charge video can be viewed here
