Williams Racing went into Easter with two stakes-winning scalps and they also prepared Bondi 3yo filly Moonwalk to open her city account at Ascot on Good Friday.
Moonwalk (3f Bondi – Wahwahtusi by Thunder Gulch) is a Lynward Park homebred and won as she pleased for in-form jockey Lucy Fiore in the Reliable Asset Maintenance Hcp (1400m) yesterday. Albany visitor Whiplash (Sweynesse) set a moderate speed and that sparked a midrace move by Chris Parnham on Bondi Lifesaver (Bondi).
Fiore tracked Parnham into the race and then let down to score by more than two lengths from Nickelplay (Playing God). “When Chris popped out it gave me a perfect tow into the race,” Lucy reported. “She felt fresh and sharp today and will definitely get further than 1400m.”
Moonwalk (Photo / Western Racepix) is by Lynward Park resident Bondi (Snitzel) and is a half-sister to Ascot winners Castillo Del Lago (Alfred Nobel) and Drupa (Trade Fair). Their dam Wahwahtusi (Thunder Gulch) was a $42,500 buy off the track through John Chalmers (as agent) from Canning Downs Stud in Queensland.
Second-dam Dance Play (The Minstrel) is a three-quarter sister to English Derby winner Secreto and third-dam Betty’s Secret (Secretariat) is a half-sister to French Derby winner Caracolero (Graustark).
On Thursday, Lynward Park graduate Niccimota returned to winning form with a welcome all-the-way victory over 1000m at Belmont.
Trained by Jim Taylor for a partnership including his wife Tina and mother Lois, she only required a reminder or two from apprentice Chanel Cooper to defeat the Toronado (Ire) mares Corner Off and Perfect Chant.
Niccimota (4m Nicconi – Outboard Motors by Sebring) had doubled up over the minimum trip at Pinjarra and Belmont at the start of this season but has paid the penalty at the weights. Taylor has taken advantage of Cooper’ s 2kg claim ensuring the mare would come into calculations shouldering 58kg on Thursday.
Niccimota sold for $120,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Her dam Outboard Motors was a $60,000 buy for Lynward Park at the 2021 Magic Millions National Sale and her most recent foal is a weanling colt by Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Dark Angel).
Williams Racing had won black-type events with Sentimental Legend (Brutal) in the LR Melvista Stakes (2200m) on Wednesday and Essentric Nature (Savabeel) in the LR Old Comrade Stakes (1600m) on Friday. Moonwalk completed a double for the Karnup-based stable before Western Lady (Toronado) bolted in at Ascot on Saturday for her owners Forest View Farm.
