The Grant and Alana Williams-trained three-year-old Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) proved a class above his rivals as expected in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m) at Ascot on Saturday, comfortably holding Outback Jack who headed home the remainder of the small six-horse field.
Bred and raced by leviathan owners Bob and Sandra Peters, Western Empire has now won his past three starts, all at Listed level, and shapes as the horse to beat in the Gr.2 WATC Derby (2400m) in a fortnight.
Ridden by star jockey William Pike, Western Empire was sent out a $1.18 favourite and was always within striking distance in a moderately run affair.
“It was nice to see him settle now. He is certainly getting some manners, a lot better than he has been in the past,” Bob Peters said.
“He seems to be growing up a bit. It is just maturity. He didn’t really know what he was doing and what he was expected to do. With the very slow pace sometimes he would get his head in the air and be hard to handle.
“The last few runs, he has been good.”
By former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj, Western Empire is out of Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Western Jewel (Jeune), whom Peters raced.
“I wasn’t too worried about the journey. I thought he’d be able to handle 2200m and now he has to step up to 2400m and we will see how he goes there,” Peters said.
Pike believes the gelding is slowly starting to mature into the horse the stable always believed he could be.
“He has taken a lot of steps in the right direction and I think he can still take a few more, which is good,” Pike said.
“He was going to win a long way from home. I only asked him for what I needed and we have still got a grand final to get to yet.”
