Empire Reigns Supreme in West

Top 3YO Perth stayer Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) was sent out a strong $1.30 favourite for Saturday’s Gr2 WATC Derby (2400m) and duly obliged despite covering plenty of ground in the run. The Grant and Alana Williams-trained 3YO-old has won five of his past six starts, and despite his obvious talent is not yet the complete package, reports racingnews.co.nz. Bred and raced by leviathan owners Bob and Sandra Peters, Western Empire had won Derby lead-ups the Lex Piper Stakes (1600m), JC Robert Stakes (1800m) and Melvista Stakes (2200m) – all at Listed level. Jumping from the outside barrier under William Pike on Saturday, Western Empire didn’t settle in the early stages but still showed his class to run out a ready winner over Gr3 WA Oaks (2400m) placegetter Temptacion (All Too Hard). The Peters colours have been carried to victory in the WATC Derby on a remarkable 11 occasions. “It didn’t look too good today when he was pulling so hard early and I thought he was going to get trapped wide,” Bob Peters conceded. “He was wide around the corner, so he has done a good job really. He has been up a long time.” Putting aside talk of any immediate east coast campaign, Peters said, “He will have a good spell now and we will bring him back for our races here in the Summer. I don’t think he is ready to go East yet. Most likely he will stay here (in Perth).” By former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), Western Empire is out of Gr2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Western Jewel (Jeune), who was raced by Peters.