Gray Williamson is on a roll this month and the momentum continued with About Turn his third maiden winner in as many weeks at Pinjarra on Thursday.
What’s more, the trio aren’t your run of the mill maiden winners. According to their trainers – Stefan Valaha, Chris & Michael Gangemi and Simon Miller – all three have the potential to go through the grades this season.
The upcoming stud season is also something of a revival for Williamson who has no peer here for identifying and buying stallions the calibre of WA Champions sires like Metal Storm (Fr), Playing God and Oratorio.
About Turn wins at Pinjarra / Photo: Western Racepix
He’s back in business with Straight Charge (Written By) who commences his first book on Tuesday week with Westbury Park owner Phil Ibbotson.
A speed-machine of the first order, Straight Charge retires with a G2 ATC Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) to his credit at Rosehill.
Williamson is coming off a season to remember as the breeder of G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Afireofgidgeecoals in April. “I was confident,” trainer Dan Morton said after Perth’s 2yo Grand Final. “He’s beautiful and I’ve had a big opinion of him since Day 1.”
Afireofgidgeecoals is a son of Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) and he gives Gray a strong hand, albeit early days, for the $500,000 G2 WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on November 21.
It’s Railway Stakes Day and could be another one to remember with the Williamson-bred Godspeed also bound for the WA Guineas after toying with his rivals at Belmont on August 1.
Godspeed (3g Playing God – Cascada by Lonhro) jumped the gun on the opening day of the season for Gangemi Racing who bought him out of Williamson’s Mungrup consignment to the 2025 Perth Magic Millions for $170,000.
“He could run through a brick wall,” trainer Michael Gangemi declared. “He will go to the paddock now and will continue to grow and strengthen. I can’t wait to get him back for the carnival.”
Hype Machine was the second Williamson-bred winner with potential plus when he came from another postcode in the Swan Draught Maiden (1400m) at Bunbury last Thursday, August 13.
Racing first-up since an initial racing prep in March, Hype Machine drew wide and was allowed to settle at the back of a 15-horse field before launching a seismic sprint down the centre of the track for Steve Parnham.
Hype Machine (4g Maschino – Hallowell Angel by Testa Rossa) was bred and sold by Williamson through Mungrup for $60,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. He was purchased by SM & KB Bloodstock’s Kyle Sutherland acting for a Stefan Vahala stable syndicate that includes a couple of colourful crews named Only Fools Buy Horses and the Pyongyang Pony Punters.
“He pulled up well after Bunbury and will go again at Belmont next Wednesday,” Vahala said earlier this week. “He’s taken time to mature mentally and is still not quite there yet. He will get over ground and will probably peak out to 2000m.”
About Turn (4g Star Turn – Pletto by Playing God) made no mistakes making it a treble in the State Wide Turf Services Maiden (1400m for trainer Simon Miller at Pinjarra yesterday. He hit the ground running out of the gates and Jarrad Noske dictated terms before putting a space on the Vahala-prepared runner-up Zero To Sixty (Impending).
“About Turn has been a work in progress but our boy showed up big time to win impressively,” Miller posted on Facebook. “It replicated a serious piece of work on Saturday morning and this can be the platform to launch a serious prep.”
Williamson sold him for $65,000 out of the Mungrup consignment at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions to Simon Miller Racing and Network Bloodstock. His dam Pletto (Playing God) won at Belmont and Ascot for Pearce Racing and second-dam Stormletto (Metal Storm) is an older half-sister to Listed Summer Scorcher (1000m) winner Scuffs (Speed Week).
Back at Westbury Park on Friday morning, Phil Ibbotson reported they’re looking at a book upwards of 70 mares for Straight Charge first-up this season. “He’s been well-received. Parading him on racedays at Belmont and Bunbury and at our open day helped bookings.
“Everyone who looks him over likes what they see. He stands 16.1 hands and is letting down into a superb stallion.”
Straight Charge (Written By) will stand at Westbury Park for an introductory service fee of $6,600 alongside A Lot (Tapit) at $7,700 and My Admiration (Encosta De Lago) at $4,400. All fees (inc GST). For further information or bookings call Phil Ibbotson (0429 341 211), Gray Williamson (0427 532 103) and Claire Williamson (0417 914 605)
