The odd-on favourite Another Wil overcame a frightening moment when severely checked at the 250m before drawing clear for a well-deserved success in Saturday’s Listed Millennium Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for Ciaron Maher, Another Wil had committed to a rails run in the straight when Run Harry Run rolled back to the fence, forcing Kah to check.
The 5-year-old son of Street Boss (USA) dusted himself off and kept up a strong gallop to defeat Wishlor Lass (Mshawish) by one and a half lengths, with Run Harry Run (Written Tycoon) three-quarters of a length back in third.
The winner of the Group III Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill in the autumn, Another Wil advances his record to seven wins, a second, and a third from ten starts with earnings of $587,675.
“Damian (Lane on Wishlor Lass) certainly wasn't going to let him come to the outside, which was fair enough,” Maher said
“He copped a bit of interference there. He's a big horse, big stride. So, you know, it does take him a little while to regain balance. He's very progressive.
“My brother and the team at Ballarat have done a really good job with him. He's settling down with each run. He was fresh last time and was a little bit better today. He's still coming into the coat.
“He's on track, and hopefully, we can raise the bar now. He seems to handle dry and wet and can race forward or back, which you need to be able to do when you're raising the bar.
“The (Toorak Handicap) looks like the obvious next target.
Jamie Kah said Another Wil has taken another step from the autumn.
“The race was always going to be messy. I wanted to stay one off, and then I think the whole field knew I wanted to stay one off,” Kah said.
“The gap was there on the fence and then Blake (Shinn) closed it on the turn when we were already in there.
Lucky he’s grown into a man now, he pushed his way out of it. He’s still improving, but he’s still had a big blow pulling up.
“I’m just so happy with how much this horse has changed since last prep; now he’s tractable; you don’t have to just jump and lead on him.”
“Just so happy for Col and Janice (McKenna); they’ve found themselves a very nice horse.”
A half-brother to Grand National Hurdle winner Will John (Reset) and stakes-placed Wahine Toa (Dalakhani), Another Wil is the fourth winner from as many to race for the winning Bianconi (USA) mare Arohanui, who Maher purchased for $30,000 at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
From the family of Group 1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Alf, Arohanui died in 2021. Her final foal is an unraced 3-year-old filly by Puissance De Lune (IRE).
