Race favourite King Of Light had to overcome a betting drift, an unsuitable race tempo and the formidable WA warhorse Western Empire to claim a last stride victory in the $300,000 G2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m WFA) at Ascot.
The brilliant son of Earthlight (IRE) was required to come from last at the top of the straight, but under the urging of partner Lucy Fiore the big chestnut powered home to remain undefeated in three starts this preparation - and firmly on track for his main target, the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in a fortnight's time.
A late betting move for Western Empire almost paid off. The nine year old son of Iffraaj retains every bit of his zest for racing and will be an ongoing threat again in the upcoming Pinnacles carnival.
Back in the stables of Team Williams and with Jason Lyon in the saddle, Western Empire had a perfect run behind the moderate speed set by his stablemate and race leader London's Image (Headwater)
King Of Light still had it all to do as Western Empire made his move in the straight to overhaul the mare, but once again showed the incredible acceleration that has become his trademark.
The older horse fought hard but his four year old rival got his head down on the line to prevail by a nose in a thrilling finish, with London's Image fighting on strongly to hold third from the fast finishing Let's Galahvant (Galah) in fourth.
The reigning Railway Stakes champion Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock), also trained by Grant and Alana Williams, turned in another even performance at his second run this time in, finishing fifth, 2.3 lengths from the winner.
King Of Light advances his imposing record to 8 wins from 9 starts and $764,780 in prize money.
King Of Light looks like the horse to beat in the Railway Stakes in two weeks time after winning the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes! https://t.co/FNWiiP1Xqi
— Racing WA TV (@RacingWATV) November 7, 2026
His tenacious win turned around trainer Dan Morton's fortunes on the day, after his promising three year old Roger had to be scratched from the Fairetha Stakes earlier in the meeting.
“ Well, that's racing isn't it! ” said Dan.
“This guy was great again. He just knows how to win races. He's very fit now, you've only got two weeks to maintain and get to the mile, so he'll probably naturally improve a little bit, and he needs to”.
“He's drawn wide the last two runs and we've just sort of let him reverse park, but I'm sure he's got tactical speed ( to settle closer in the run) if he needs it.”
King Of Light currently heads the Railway betting market and has been steadily backed for Ascot’s showpiece since he gained exemption from the ballot with his electrifying victory over the course in the G2 WA Guineas last season.
The big bold gelding was a $120,000 Magic Millions Perth purchase from the Amelia Park Racing and Breeding draft for his trainer, and races for a big Syndicate of stable clients.
King Of Light is the second stakes winner for Earthlight (IRE) in Australia and is the image of his handsome sire with the same distinctive markings, including an unusual broken blaze.
Earthlight (IRE) by breedshaper Shamardal was undefeated at two and won seven of nine starts, two of them G1 races, setting a race record in the Middle Park Stakes.
Earthlight is a three quarter brother to the exciting young sire Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) who was also a champion juvenile and now stands at Darley Europe.
Their dam Winters Moon (New Approach) won once in seven starts but she has already produced French and European Champion 2YO colts for Godolphin!
As a son of Shamardal, Earthlight faced fierce competition for mares from Blue Point, Pinatubo and Victor Ludorum with whom he shared the Darley roster, and his younger sibling has now replaced him.
King Of Light is the fourth of five foals from winning NZ bred mare Queen's Parade (Dalghar)- all have raced and four have won for her.
Queen's Parade produced a Manhattan Rain colt in 2023 - purchased for $35,000 at the 2025 MM Perth by BK Racing, from the draft of Nuimara Farm. Named Blue Sparx, he has won and twice placed in four starts.
The mare produced a filly to Shamardal's champion Blue Point in 2024, and another daughter by Pierata last season.
This spring's foal is a grey-brown colt by Cylinder!
King Of Light's second dam Press Leak ( Rock Of Gibraltar) won over a mile in the USA and her six winners include the Savabeel filly Spirit Bird (G3 Tibbie Stakes and 2nd in the G2 WA Guineas)
Press Leak was a daughter of stakes winner Sneaky Quiet by Seeking The Gold, who won a Florida Oaks and placed in a G1 Kentucky Oaks.
It's the immediate family of the top class Hong Kong galloper Ensued (runner up in a G1 HK Gold Cup) - and G1 Goodwood Hcp winning colt Reserve Bank by Capitalist ( now at stud) is also from this damline, which goes back to stakes winner Treasure Chest - a full sister to the champion 2YO My Dear Girl who became dam of the great sire In Reality.
King Of Light is bred:
Mr Prospector 5m x5m,5m
Danzig x 4m,5m
He has two lines to Mr Prospector's best broodmare sire son Miswaki.
His damsire Dalghar by Anabaa is half brother to the great racehorses and champion sires Daylami and Dalakhani.
Dalghar’s full sister Daltaya was G1 placed and is dam of French Champion Older Female Dalkala, by Giant's Causeway - Earthlight's tail male line. Dalghar is the sire of six stakes winners including the 2025 Perth Cup winner Hemlock Stone.
He certainly has the breeding to impart immense Classic depth as a broodmare sire, and is obviously a great foil for Earthlight’s brand of scintillating speed.
A splendid feature of King Of Light's ancestry is his linebreeding to the amazing mare Rare Treat by Stymie, who raced 101 times from ages two to seven!
She collected five stakes races and imparted her brilliance and incredible toughness to her progeny.
Put to speed sire Tudor Minstrel Rare Treat produced her great filly What A Treat, dam of Be My Guest.
Her daughter Exotic Treat by Vaguely Noble is the ancestress of Earthlight and his brother Shadow Of Light and also of 1982 Epsom Derby winner Golden Fleece.
Venetian Sun, current dual G1 winning sprint filly in GB is a member of King Of Light's immediate family.
Rare Treat was bred 4 x 4 x 5 to Man O’ War and 5 x 5 to Broomstick, the great American broodmare sires.
She is from the same female line as mighty Storm Cat, Earthlight's tail male ancestor and thus his pedigree is topped and tailed by this great family.
King Of Light is bred many times to the Blue Hen Lalun through her sons Never Bend and Bold Reason and is x 2 Riverman through his daughters.
Lalun's family (19-b) is that to which Earthlight’s damsire New Approach belongs.
He has two lines to Classic supersire Vaguely Noble and to that stallion's Blue Hen ancestress Belle Sauvage, via Galileo.
This fantastic blend of stamina and speed has created a formidable racehorse.
Will the King be crowned the Railway champion?
