The Empire strikes back in Gold Rush

The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Western Empire has powered to victory in the A$1.5 million Gr.3 Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.

Ridden by Billy Egan, who was called off the bench when regular rider Willie Pike became unavailable earlier in the week, Western Empire travelled wide with cover throughout but unleashed a devastating turn of foot to defeat Magnificent Andy and favourite Super Smink.

It was shades of Western Empire’s best as the now seven-year-old son of Iffraaj returned to the form that had seen him dominate Perth racing as a younger horse.

The son of Iffraaj won seven of his first 12 starts in 2020 and 2021, including a stunning four-length romp in the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and victory in the Gr.2 WA Derby (2400m).

Western Empire was trained through those glory days by Grant and Alana Williams for leviathan Perth owner Bob Peters. The gelding subsequently had two campaigns in Victoria, finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for Danny O’Brien and finishing outside the placings in five appearances for John Leek Jr.

The Williams team jumped at the opportunity when Western Empire was placed on an Inglis Digital Sale last October, purchasing him for A$150,000 and bringing him back to their Karnup stable.

Having campaigned over shorter distances this preparation including a last-start ninth to Overpass in the Gr.1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), all looked on track for the grand final effort in the Gold Rush.

But when Willie Pike had a tumble from an e-scooter on Monday and as a result, broke his wrist, the cat was really put amongst the pigeons as the Williams scrambled for a replacement rider before eventually calling on Victorian Billy Egan, who they had never met previously.

“Everyone close to me knows I threw the teddy out of the cot on Monday and Tuesday. It is lucky Alana is the solid part between the two of us because she takes the emotion out of it,” Grant Williams said.

“The Gold Rush has been our goal all along but he was working that good before the Winterbottom, we thought we were a chance to win it, and obviously we weren’t.

“It has been a hectic week. A lot of people over East said this guy is a ripper. He is Paddy Payne’s main rider and he is one of the hardest markers.

“He is a champion bloke they said and my first impressions when we met before the first were really good.”

Egan, who had never previously ridden in Perth, was pleased he had a few sighters on some stablemates.

“It has been a pretty good week. I found out on Monday night in Melbourne that I was going to ride the horse, so I’ve had the week to prepare and I have been looking forward to it all week,” he said.

“First time riding here and I’ve had a great experience and even better, I’ve ridden a winner.

“I needed to get a feel for the track and a feel for the surroundings.”

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.

The gelding has now won in excess of A$2.7 million in prizemoney with 10 wins from a 28-start career. -NZ Racing News