The Grant & Alana Williams-trained Storyville ($4.20) has proven too classy in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, producing a stunning turn-of-foot in the concluding stages to claim the $500,000 feature.
She was on the one-week backup after a dominant win in the Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at the same course and distance last Saturday; however, the three-year-old was relatively unwanted late in betting with horse racing bookmakers, as all the money came for the Neville Parnham-trained September Born ($2.00 with Neds) prior to the jump.
William Pike was happy to smoke the pipe in behind a hot tempo throughout the journey, with Declan Bates adopting Pride Of Jenni like tactics aboard London’s Image ($17.00) as she bowled along to put a gap in her rivals.
September Born appeared to get every chance racing in the one-one but never looked like to figure as the sprint went on, with all the runs coming down the centre of the course.
Olympic Park ($14.00) and The Merryman ($34.00) were storming home to mount a late challenge, but it was to no avail as Storyville closed off best to claim back-to-back features.
2024 Group 2 WA Guineas Race Replay – Storyville (1st)
Co-trainer Grant Williams was on course to break down the win and didn’t rule out a trip to the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) on December 7.
“That was so good wasn’t it, unbelievable,” exclaimed Williams.
“A lot of great loyal owners, some of my best owners, some of my long-term owners, and obviously Alana’s bred it.
“This is sort of brought back to Willy (Pike) too. It’s such a good team effort, we had a chat a few weeks ago. Things weren’t going right, I’m like ‘mate, what are you doing? Just go back to doing what you do’,
“Three-year-olds have got to be strong to ride them like that, and although our horses are really fit and strong, the mental part comes when they win, so it was good we put the train back on the tracks.
“She’s nominated (for the Northerly), she’s done a huge job so I’m not really sure.”
William Pike suggested there’s more to come for Storyville and thinks the Northerly is within her grasp.
“Great effort,” Pike said.
“I think she wasn’t quite the same horse she was last week, bouncing around, she’s normally very bubbly and up and about. I think she was only about 80 or 90 percent of what she’s capable of there.
“Hopefully they can pick her back up and maybe they have a tilt at the Northerly.”
Storyville has now firmed into $7.00 favourite with BlondeBet for the 2024 Northerly Stakes on December 7.
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