Photo: Western Race Pix
Almost five years after rising to the top of Perth racing with a five-win sequence that culminated in the 2021 edition of the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m), remarkable veteran Western Empire (Iffraaj) is once again winning black-type races in a row.
Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Swan Draught Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont was the eight-year-old’s third start in his latest campaign and his third consecutive Group Three win. He had previously captured the Belmont Sprint (1400m) on May 16 and the Hyperion Stakes (1600m) on May 30.
The Strickland was one of the few features on the Perth calendar to have eluded Western Empire, who finished second in 2024 and fourth in 2025. But he added that trophy to his collection on Saturday, recording the 13th Group or Listed win of his decorated career.
Ridden as usual by William Pike, Western Empire took up a position in third behind Hoba West and Sentimental Hero.
The $1.40 favourite was briefly boxed in along the rail coming up to the home turn, but Pike found a narrow opening and drove him up on the outside of Hoba West with 300m to run. Western Empire soon pulled ahead of that rival and went clear to win by a length and a half with his ears pricked.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Western Empire has now had 38 starts for 14 wins, 10 placings and A$3.79 million in stakes. Judging from the form he is showing in his current campaign, Pike sees no reason why he shouldn’t carry on into his nine-year-old season.
“I was very happy with where we ended up,” Pike said. “I had the horse to beat in front of me and we were covered up well.
“I was more concerned with him settling more than anything else, because I thought he might have been a query at the distance. I thought I would worry about the second half of the race when it came around.
“He’s just a marvel. He keeps fronting up for everyone, and everyone’s enjoying the ride that he’s got us on. I hope they can get him up one more time for the carnival – he’ll still play a part if they do.
“When he's in this sort of mood, where he's edgy enough that you've got to hold on, but not too edgy that you're hanging off the side, that's when he goes best. That's where he is right now.”
Bred in New Zealand by Peters Investments, Western Empire is by former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj and is out of Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Western Jewel.
