Mungrup’s Gray Williamson and Westbury Stud’s Phil Ibbotson have been busy filling the first book for new sire Straight Charge (Written By) this season but not too busy to double up with Ninetymilestraight (Flying Artie) and De Lago’s Rock (Awesome Rock) at Belmont yesterday.
A homebred for Williamson, Ninetymilestraight (Photo / Western Racepix) opened Wednesday’s midweek meeting with a front-running, first-up victory in the Quayclean Hcp (1000m). The Trevor Andrews-trained mare was shadowed by odds-on favourite Hansadios (Hanseatic) but dropped the hot-pot in the straight to score by a length under a hands and heels ride by apprentice Jefferson Tsang.
Ninetymilestraight (4m Flying Artie – Caiguna by Dubai Destination) earned black-type when runner-up to Hot And High (Too Darn Hot) in the LR Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot twelve months ago and she has enormous resident value as an older half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Afireofgidgeecoals (Too Darn Hot).
“She had a fair bit of weight today and I expected her to race forward although I didn’t think she would lead the favourite,” Andrews said. “She was somewhat underdone winning a trial a couple of weeks ago and has come on good since then.
“She’s had a few issues but is maturing into a lovely mare. She has a beautiful pedigree and will be winning more races before retiring to stud next season.”
De Lago’s Rock (3g Awesome Rock – L’amour De Ma Vie by High Chaparral) is on a hat-trick after producing a powerful finish in the Unite Resourcing Hcp (1650m). He settled in the running line for Willie Pike and ran through the line like a horse going places for trainer Josh Brown.
The hat-trick will have to wait until the autumn because Brown is sending him to the paddock pronto. “I wanted to put him away after winning a Northam maiden last start but got talked in to going one more time. He’s miles away physically and will continue to grow and develop.
“The penny’s dropped and he’s in the zone and learning to relax. We might be even be looking at a classic campaign in the autumn.”
De Lago’s Rock was bred and sold by Ibbotson for $32,500 through the Westbury Park consignment to the 2025 Perth Magic Millions. He’s bred to win anything as a close relation of Group 1 Champion racehorse and sire Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill).
Ibbotson stands Straight Charge (Written By) on behalf of Williamson and his first seven mares all tested positive. He’s available for an introductory service fee of $6,600 (inc GST). Contact Phil Ibbotson (0429 341 211), Gray Williamson (0427 532 103) or Claire Williamson (0417 914 605) for bookings or further details.
Gray’s daughter Claire was also in the frame at Ascot on Saturday with Aberdeen Flyer (Astern) in the LR Luckygray Stakes (1800m). Claire and her partner Coel Hunter own Willaview Park and they bred and race him in a partnership that’s banked $333,000 in just a dozen starts.
Aberdeen Flyer (4g Astern – Templates by Teofilo) is a borderline chance of qualifying for the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday week, November 21. He also holds an entry into the G1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday, December 5.
