The Written Tycoon gelding Able Willie looked another top-liner in the making for Hermitage Thoroughbreds following an exciting debut at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller for Chris Waller, Able Willie cruised up to the leaders with a minimum of urging in the Admire Mars At Arrowfield Maiden (1250m). When given his head, Able Willie extended impressively to defeat stablemate’s Arranmore (Astern) and Lady Piaf (I Am Invincible).
“He is still very raw. He is still doing a few things wrong but learning all the time,” Rawiller said.
“When the pace came out of the race at the 700m, he tended to get on one rein. It probably paid in our favour that the stablemate went forward, and I was able to get on his back.
“Passing the 300m, I still had a lapful of horse.”
Stable foreman Charlie Duckworth said they would monitor Able Willie’s progress before making any grand plans.
“It’s great to get the win at the first time of asking,” Duckworth said.
“There is still plenty to come in terms of his mental maturity. He can go through the grades now and learn his craft at a lower level. Then when he gets to a higher level, he will have learned his craft.
‘He was in a hand-canter at the 250m, and it was just a matter of how far.
“I don’t think we will be in too much of a rush. If he measured up, it would be a second-tier (stakes) race in Melbourne like the Carbine Club, then focus on the autumn.
‘We will let the master do his magic and come back with a plan.”
Able Willie was a $140,000 purchase by his trainer out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Bred by Glentree Pastoral, Able Willie is the second winner from as many foals from the 5-time winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Lifesaver Lady.
Purchased by Tristarc Bloodstock for $200,000 at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale, Lifesaver Lady is a half-sister to Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes winner Anise (General Nediym).
The dam of Lifesaver Lady, Pimpinella (Flying Spur), is a three-quarter sister to Hong Kong Horse of The Year, Fairy King Prawn, and triple Listed stakes winner Crevette (dam of Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour) and a half-sister to Group 1 VRC Salinger Stakes winner Easy Rocking.
Freedman Brothers purchased a Not A Single Doubt half-sister to Able Willie for $230,000 out of the Glentree Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. She has been named Doubtless Lady.
Not covered in 2019, Lifesaver Lady visited American Pharoah (USA) last spring.
