Dawson Stud mare Canny Time has a perfect record as a producer and her fifth winner arrived at Northam on Wednesday when Empire Of Rome repelled several challenges in the TABtouch Maiden (1200m).
Facing the starter second-up, Empire Of Rome (King’s Legacy) jumped to the lead from the inside gate before Zephen Johnston-Porter allowed The Stalagmite (Leonardo Da Hinchi) and Squad Goal (Unite And Conquer) to take over in front.
He came off the fence to split the leaders at the top of the straight and kept lifting to score by three-quarters of a length from the favourite Miss Billie Jean (Maschino) and Unanswered (Cool Aza Beel). “That’s a great result at good odds for the team,” Gangemi Thoroughbreds posted on Facebook. “He was given a peach of a ride by in-form jock ZJP and won impressively at $31 at his second-ever race start!”
Empire Of Rome joins Canny Time’s prior winners Elite Time (Written Tycoon), Canny Boy (Sebring), Dazzle Legend (Zoustar) and Pierata’s Gem (Pierata). After being passed in at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions, Dawson Stud owner-breeder Graham Daws sold him to Michael Gangemi while keeping a share with Glen McNally.
Canny Time has a 2yo colt by Brave Smash and she foaled a colt by Cool Aza Beel in August.
Daws had purchased second-dam Maritime (Falbrav) as part of a package deal in 2012 when she was a 7yo mare carrying Canny Time (Canny Lad). It was a timely buy as her first foal Charlie Boy (Myboycharlie) then came out and won the G2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Maritime also foaled NZ-bred colt Cousteau (Exceed And Excel) for Daws and he was a Woodville juvenile winner for Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis. Third-dam Pontal Lass (Marauding) won the G1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in 1995.
