Trainer Grant Williams believes Watch Me Rock could a headline horse for the G1 Railway Stakes but he’s thinking twelve months in advance towards the 2025 renewal of the Big Mile at Ascot.
Watch Me Rock (4g Awesome Rock – What Choux Want by Jimmy Choux) is one of the most improved horses in training this season and will likely be tipped out now with a view to the future.
Williams and his wife Alana prepared the Ridgeport Farm homebred to break through at Ascot in May and since resuming in August he has won four from six and was runner-up in the other two outings.
Watch Me Rock camped one-out, one-back for Willie Pike behind Great Fortune (My Admiration) and then turned Saturday’s PKF Perth Hcp (1600m) into a walk in the park. “That was easy,” Grant said. “He’s been a revelation this campaign watching him go through gears without being asked.
“Blinkers have made a big difference. He did have a bad attitude and burnt me a couple of times when I though he could win. He can still be a bit quirky and we’re mindful this was probably his last run this prep.
“He’s starting to lighten off and we will bring him back for races like the (LR) Pinjarra Classic in February.”
Watch Me Rock’s winning run has borne out Pike’s earlier prediction that the better the company, the better he would go. “He has a turn of foot and is a favourite of mine. The penny has dropped with the blinkers and they make life much easier out there.”
Watch Me Rock is by Gold Front sire Awesome Rock and was bred by Ridgeport Farm manager Marge Ojapold and Graham White. Saturday’s result sent his earnings just shy of $300,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $98,000 for a partnership comprising Ojapold, her partner Ben Gudjonsson, Ridgeport principal Santo Guagliardo and former Ridgeport team member Angelina Blaskovic.
His NZ-bred dam What Choux Want has a yearling filly by Rommel that’s been entered for the 2025 Perth Magic Millions. The mare also foaled a Long Leaf colt on September 14.
Ridgeport Farm stands Rommel (Commands) for $6,600 alongside Ducimus (Snitzel) at $5,500. Both fees (inc GST). For bookings or more information, contact Marge Ojapold (0497 478 231), Grant Burns (0410 683 470), Steve Hoare (0409 987 970).