Western Empire wins second Belmont Sprint

Remarkable Kiwi-bred veteran Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) took his career earnings past A$3.5 million with a first-up victory in the A$200,000 Gr.3 Drummond Golf Belmont Sprint (1400m) in Perth on Saturday.

It was the eight-year-old Iffraaj gelding’s second win in the Belmont feature and his 11^th black-type success overall – a list that also features the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Western Australian Derby (2400m) in 2021 along with four other Group Three races and three Listed events.

Saturday’s Belmont Sprint was the first raceday appearance since December for the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Western Empire, who came into the meeting as second favourite behind the up-and-comer Smooth Chino (Maschino) but was strongly backed to be the $2.25 favourite by start time.

Western Empire and his regular rider William Pike had some uncomfortable moments in the early part of the race when the leaders suddenly slackened the pace, forcing Western Empire to check and get his head high up in the air. But then Pike was able to get his mount to settle into a smooth rhythm in sixth spot, one off the rail.

Pike brought Western Empire to the outside at the top of the straight and set his sights on the leaders. He quickly swept past Smooth Chino and began to wear down Rope Them In (Playing God), overhauling him in the final few strides to win by a neck.

“It was a scrappy sort of race,” Pike said. “The leaders shot across and got their positions real quick and easy and then put the handbrake on.

“But I was happy to bide my time, stay out of what was happening ahead of me and just get into the clear.

“I always felt like I was going to win, but Rope Them In is a good horse and it’s hard to pass him.

“Western Empire knows how to get the job done. With a run like that, with an economical first half, he was always going to be strong in the second half.

“He’s eight now and it’s a few years since his Derby win. I dare say he takes a bit of management these days, but he’s evergreen. He’s still turning up and making me look good.”

Bred in New Zealand by Peters Investments, Western Empire is by former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj and is out of Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Western Jewel.

Western Empire has now had 36 starts for 12 wins, 10 placings and A$3.56 million in prize-money. He is now likely to run in the Gr.3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont on May 30.