Grant Williams’ star filly Dreamaway extended her sensational winning streak to five straight last Saturday April 2 when she defeated a crack field to win the $500,000 Group 1 W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m) at Ascot.
The three-year-old daughter of More Than Ready had won four black-types heading into the 2011 WATC Derby including her last-start victory just seven days previous in the Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m).
Her brilliant form saw Dreamaway start the clear $3.30 favourite in the WATC Derby despite the filly drawing wide with barrier 11.
Saluting for the punters after a tough run, jockey William Pike stayed calm aboard Dreamaway and the favourite stormed home to defeat Neville Parham’s Group 1 winning colt Playing God by one and a half lengths while Rio Dane was a further three quarters of a length a third.
On the home straight Dreamaway was blocked for a run, but in a gritty effort the filly found a narrow route in the final few hundred meters to outrun Playing God who looked the winner until Dreamaway produced a blistering late burst.
It was a top day for Pike who also took out the accompanying Group race on the Ascot card wining the Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes aboard Bliss Street.
The WATC Derby result was marred slightly for Pike, however, who was suspended for 14 days by RWWA stewards for a careless riding charge.
It was found Pike had bumped fourth placegetter The Tenby Friar heavily at the 200m when pushing Dreamaway clear.
Dreamaway has now won six of her 10 career starts for close to $755,550 in prize money.
2011 Schweppes W.A.T.C. Derby Result & Finishing Order
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | DREAMAWAY | Grant Williams | William Pike | – | 11 | 54kg | $3.30F |
| 2 | 1 | PLAYING GOD | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 1.5L | 12 | 56kg | $3.60 |
| 3 | 5 | RIO DANE | Frankie Maynard | Shaun Meeres | 2.25L | 1 | 56kg | $9 |
| 4 | 4 | THE TENBY FRIAR | Jim P Taylor | Jason Brown | 2.5L | 5 | 56kg | $8 |
| 5 | 2 | VERACIOUS | Trevor Andrews | Troy Turner | 2.5L | 2 | 56kg | $15 |
| 6 | 11 | CHIRON | Lou Luciani | Jason Whiting | 4.25L | 3 | 56kg | $41 |
| 7 | 16 | IHTSATUNE | Fred Kersley | Daniel Staeck | 4.5L | 9 | 54kg | $151 |
| 8 | 9 | AMBERS KINGDOM | Sharon Miller | Duncan Miller (a2) | 5L | 7 | 56kg | $101 |
| 9 | 10 | DOODELICIOUS | Paige Kenney | Takahide Ikenushi | 7.5L | 10 | 56kg | $51 |
| 10 | 15 | MOONLIGHT BAY | Grant Williams | Kyra Yuill (a1.5) | 8.25L | 6 | 54kg | $16 |
| 11 | 12 | THE PURPLE PARROT | Stan Bates | Alan Kennedy | 9L | 14 | 56kg | $201 |
| 12 | 14 | WHY SHE LEFT | Vernon Brockman | Paul Harvey | 9.25L | 8 | 54kg | $7 |
| 13 | 7 | DISCOVERERS | George Daly | Peter Knuckey | 16L | 4 | 56kg | $31 |
| 14 | 3 | VIEW THE STARS | Paul Jordan | Brad Parnham | 22.25L | 13 | 56kg | $41 |
| SCR | 8 | MR MOET | Adam Durrant | Peter Hall | – | 0 | – | – |
| SCR | 6 | BIG JOSH | Daniel Morton | Shaun O’Donnell | – | 0 | – | – |
