Photo: Western Racepix
A gritty performance by Western Empire (Iffraaj) to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Pinjarra has enabled the seven-year-old gelding to break the A$3 million barrier in career earnings.
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained son of Iffraaj was as brave as ever, coming from a three-wide position midfield to wear-down favourite Magnificent Andy over the concluding stages.
Western Empire missed the Belmont Sprint with a foot issue and hadn’t raced since finishing ninth in The Quokka (1200m) in April.
Winner of the 2021 Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) for the Williams, Western Empire spent time in Melbourne with Danny O’Brien and John Leek Jnr over the ensuing two seasons where his form deteriorated before the Williams purchased him when he was offered for sale online.
“We love this horse,” Grant Williams said. “He's put in two bad runs over 1200m and all the experts write him off after that.
“There were only a couple of Group one winners in this race, which means they’re quality, and that's what he is.
“We gallop them up hills, he's done plenty of work. He had that foot issue and I'll be honest, it still wasn't that great yesterday, but he's sound on it.
“Three deep, no cover and he hit the line good. What else can I say? I can't talk highly enough about this horse.”
Williams said some TLC was the key to the horse.
“They’re not machines. Some of them have to be treated differently and he does. He just needs to be treated differently.
“He's got a huge motor and he's got Alana so it's all onwards and upwards.”
After unsuccessful tilts at the 1200m features of the Gr.1 Winterbottom and the A$5 Quokka, Williams said Western Empire won’t race over such a short distance again.
“He’ll never go to 1200m again,” Williams said. “We learnt trying to be heroes and reading the papers. We thought it was easy winning 1200s and it’s not. He’s not a 1200m horse.
“He is a 1400m to maybe 2000m horse and we might even have a little dip at the Strickland Stakes (Gr.3, 2000m).
“We might have to put some ear muffs or something on him.”
From 30 starts, Western Empire has now won 11 races with a further eight placings and A$3,004,550 in prizemoney.
Bred and raced by original owners Bob and Sandra Peters under their Peters Investments Pty Ltd banner, Western Empire is by former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj and is out of Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Western Jewel.
