Dropping back slightly in class from his last two starts in group company, the Andrew Gluyas trained Harry Angel (IRE) gelding Watchme Win came with late burst of speed to win the $200,000 Listed VRC Fisher Stakes (1200m) for Blake Shinn.
Although the 6yo was already a two-time stakes winner, it has been some time since he’d recorded success, and justifiably so was sent out at double figure odds in the 14-horse field behind the Cindy Alderson trained race favourite Hankee Alpha (NZ).
Settling back in the field as the fellow South Australian trained Sir Sway went forward to lead, the Hawkes Racing trained Grand Larceny was getting a nice trail in second.
Passing the 300m mark, Grand Larceny had taken the lead with the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Inkaruna starting to show up while Godolphin’s Photograph and favourite Hankee Alpha were both making their runs closest to the outside fence.
Racing down the middle of the track, Shinn secured a gap aboard Watchme Win as the chestnut hit the lead with 100m to run, holding off the challenge of Inkaruna to score by a length and a quarter.
Holding on for third a further neck away was the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Photograph.
You little beauty ???? WATCHME WIN lives up to his name, taking out the Fisher Stakes over 1200m down the Flemington straight. #StakesDay https://t.co/X735AySckW
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 7, 2026
“It’s been a long time between drinks for him, but he gives us a reason to have one tonight, so it’s good,” said a relieved Andrew Gluyas. “He’s very honest, always around the mark.
“Back to this grade has helped him today. He got sucked along in the run and popped out, took a small margin of a gap to get through. We’re very excited.
Known for being a slightly quirky horse, Gluyas felt that could be one of the reasons it’s been a while since his last win.
“That's probably why he hasn't won for so long. But we get a reward for our patience with him, he's a style of horse that he's in that sort of 100 style rating at sprint level.
“It's just hard to break through, and then today everything lined up. Comes back to the listed style of race, which I think suited him. The weights sort of fell back into his favour. Got a lovely run, Blake squeezed through a gap and, he was strong and he’s won sort of with a bit of authority in the end.
“He's a great horse. We love him. He's got a story, we’ve got to be one step ahead of him when we're working with him. But credit to our whole team, the team at home. They do a wonderful job with him to get him to this sort of standard to win a race in the carnival is very rewarding and fulfilling.
“I'd like to thank the crew here that have been helping me out at Flemington over the last short while. We've had a few cracks at races, and to win one's fantastic.”
“He dropped me home on Saturday, he won the Wakeful, we’d run fourth in it and he dropped me back to the stables. And Sue (wife) was with me, and I went and did the horses, and Sue listened to Blake talk to his manager, and perhaps Sue sort of put the squeeze on him.
“But any which way, it's great that he can take the ride, and Connor my son, as well, he's got a good relationship with Blake. So it all worked out quite well.”
Recording his third black type victory, Watchme Win took his overall record to seven wins and six placed efforts from 27 starts with earnings of $658,100.
Bred by Harry Perks, the Mill Park raised gelding was sold via Noorilim Park’s draft at the Inglis Premier yearling sale where he was knocked down to his trainer for $160,000.
One of three winners from three to the track for the winning Sepoy mare Watchmespin, Watchme Win is the older half-brother to Bjorn Baker’s Point And Shoot (Blue Point) as well as Watchme Win’s full-sister Harry’s Hussey, an impressive debut winner back in August.
From the extended family of G1-winning Mill Park graduates Run Fox Run (Foxwedge) and Serious Speed (Royal Academy), Watchmespin has an unnamed 2yo Street Boss filly and after missing to Pride Of Dubai, foaled a full brother to Watchme Win in late August.
Bred by Harry Perks, as is the fellow Mill Park yearling sale graduate Angel Capital (Harry Angel) a winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes two starts back, Watchme Win is one of 26 stakes winners for Darley’s Word Champion Sprinter Harry Angel who is standing this season at a fee of $88,000 (inc. GST).
