Graham White realised the dream of every breeder when Watch Me Rock won the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and he can deliver a running double at the elite level in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) this Saturday.
White admits Watch More Rock will have his work cut out at weight-for-age in the Northerly in contrast to the handicap conditions of the Railway. He meets stablemate Western Empire 4kg worse off for that three-quarter length victory a fortnight ago. Being allocated 16 at the barrier draw on Tuesday won’t make it any easier for visiting jockey Nash Rawiller, either, although he did win the 2009 Railway Stakes from an outside gate on Sniper’s Bullet.
“Being entitled to say I’ve bred a Group 1 winner is a real privilege,” White said.
“There were times when we didn’t think Watch Me Rock would even make it to the races. It was touch and go when he was a foal. His dam was very sick but with the knowledge and advice provided by Peter Harding at Ascot Vets we were able to nurse them both back to full health.”
White owns a 100-acre property north of Perth at Bullsbrook and he already had close ties with Watch Me Rock’s part-owners Santo Guagliardo and Marge Ojapold. “Santo was my next-door neighbour before he moved to Waroona to start up Ridgeport Farm a few years ago.
“Marge is the manager down at the farm. She’s a good friend and we bred Watch Me Rock. He’s the first foal from What Choux Want (Jimmy Choux) and Marge bred the mare’s 2yo filly by Rommel and a filly foal by Maschino.”
White recalls entering Watch Me Rock through the Ridgeport consignment to the 2022 Perth Magic Millions and watching the bidding fall just short of a $40,000 reserve. He was an average-sized yearling and there was a slight imperfection on the inside of his near-fore hoof.
Back at Ridgeport, he began growing and Marge filled out the ownership with her partner Ben Gudjonsson, Santo and Angelina Blaskovic who was also working at the farm.
Watch Me Rock goes into the Northerly with a record that reads 11 wins and 6 placings from 19 starts for earnings of $1.58 million. There’s another $822,000 for the winning owners this Saturday and Graham doesn’t have any regrets about not being on the receiving end.
“I couldn’t be happier for them and for Grant and Alana Williams who have done a tremendous job bringing him through the grades to win a Group 1. He took a long time to learn but hasn’t stopped improving since winning his maiden as a winter 3yo at Ascot.”
The Railway was also Group 1 first for Williams Racing since splitting with Peters Investments and for Gold Front Thoroughbreds sire Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock).
White was born and bred in the WA wheatbelt at Miling and has experienced the racing and breeding industries at every level since he was a youngster strapping horses for his uncle Les White around the mid-west circuit at Moora, Three Springs, Mingenew and other tracks further afield.
He’s sitting pretty at Bullsbrook after making a life-changing career move when he was 35. “I had been an assistant steward to Maurie Boyd travelling around the State for about eight years before leaving and starting up a scrap metal business. It’s been very successful and I also had a bit of luck selling this property. A Gold Coast investor bought it and asked me to stay on as caretaker. It’s magnificent land with good soil and pastures perfect for raising horses.”
Grant and Alana can’t split Watch Me Rock and Western Empire (NZ) in the Northerly and bookmakers have priced them prominently behind King Of Light ($2.25). The unbeaten 3yo is a firming favourite ahead of Cosmic Crusader ($6), Watch Me Rock ($8.50), Vivy Air ($9) and Western Empire ($11).
“Western Empire is better off at weight-for-age but I’m sure Watch Me Rock still has more to give,” Alana said earlier this week. “Willie (Pike) reckoned there was plenty left in the tank after the Railway and he’s been ticking over nicely at home. Every time we raise the bar he responds. We haven’t got to the bottom of him yet so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Pike also had to choose between Watch Me Rock and his G2 WA Guineas (1600m) winner King Of Light. "It was one of the hardest decisions of my career but I’ve gone with King Of Light because I just can't dismiss the weight factor. Every form analyst favours the 3yo but I really think they're underselling Watch Me Rock.”
TBWA Release
