Local trainer Peter Fernie highlighted Hannans Hcp Day winning four races in a row on Thursday and it was the Williamson family’s turn on Saturday with the first three winners at the Kalgoorlie Cup meeting.
Gray Williamson stood Champion WA sire Oratorio (Stravinsky) at Mungrup Stud and his 6yo gelding I Dreamed A Dream opened the Cup Day card with a four-length victory in the TABtouch Hcp (1600m).
I Dreamed A Dream was sold by Gray’s daughter Claire Williamson (as agent) for $40,000 through her Willaview Park consignment to the 2022 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and Saturday’s victory sent his earnings to $412,000 for managing part-owner and trainer Steve Wolfe.
“He has a turn of foot but we didn’t expect he would score by such a big margin,” stable rep Tamara McGuinness said. “We freshened him up and came here confidant after his last few gallops at home.”
Dirty Habits (A Lot) continued the winning run of Ascot trainer Mitch Pateman putting three lengths on his rivals in the Argonaut Hcp (2200m). The Mungrup-bred graduate is a half-brother to this year’s G2 Perth Cup (2400m) runner-up Filthy Habits (I’m All The Talk) and was a $35,000 purchase for Justin Warwick at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions.
It completed a double for Warwick who races last-start $100,000 Westspeed Platinum Spring Final (1600m) winner I Love Ya Money (Gingerbread Man). “It’s been a good week for Justin and Dirty Habits won with authority today,” Pateman said. “He’s shown us a fair bit but is still maturing and we will send him out for another break.”
Gray sourced A Lot (USA) and initially stood him at Mungrup Stud before transferring the record-breaking son of Champion North American sire Tapit (Pulpit) from the Great Southern to Westbury Park in Pinjarra.
Gray and Claire Williamson pictured at the 2024 Magic Millions / Western Racepix
Odinaka filled out a treble for the Williamsons and doubles for A Lot (USA), Wolfe and stable jockey Shaun McGruddy in the Goldfields Industrial Solutions Hcp (1400m). He’s a Willaview Park-bred graduate and has been another bargain buy earning $412,000 after selling for $20,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
Wolfe manages and prepares him for a syndicate that includes Claire and her mother Jan Williamson. “He was resuming today but has been in work throughout the winter,” McGruddy revealed before a tongue-in-cheek reply during an on-course interview with Micheal Heaton.
“The good gate helped today and I heard Wolfie say he didn’t need to pay for my airfare back to Perth because I can afford it now. I wasn’t banking on him paying for it anyway but at least it’s nice to know he was going to.”
