Peters Eyes First 2022 Group 1 Win with Western Empire

Perth's Bob Peters will seek his first group 1 of 2022 and the new era of his vast racing and breeding operation when the aptly named Western Empire contests the Memsie Stakes (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse Aug. 27.

Peters' famed silks were carried to top-tier victory in the Kennedy Cantala Stakes (G1) by the Danny O'Brien-trained Superstorm at Flemington last Derby Day. Then came a Peters clean sweep of Perth's three group 1s late last year: Western Empire took the Heineken 3-Railway Stakes (G1); Graceful Girl the Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (G1); and Regal Power the Drummond-Golf Kingston Town Classic (G1).

All three were prepared by Peters' longtime trainers, the husband-and-wife team of Grant and Alana Williams, giving the stable-owner partnership a stunning nine group 1 winners in just three years.

But much has changed since then. The Williams partnership was dissolved early this year, following Alana Williams' rejection of Western Australia's Covid-19 vaccination rules. Grant Williams now trains solo, and Peters no longer has horses with him, with his Perth stock split between Adam Durrant and Michael Grantham.

Peters' growing eastern numbers are prepared by O'Brien, and Western Empire—who'll make a long-awaited return with his first eastern run Saturday, is shaping as their flagbearer.

The fifth of so far eight foals out of the Peters-bred 2011 Perth Cup (G2) winner Western Jewel, 5-year-old Western Empire announced himself as the latest star from the cerise-and-white production line by winning five of six between January and April last year. The last of those, following three straight Ascot listed wins, brought a first group success, in the Schweppes-W.A.T.C Derby (G2).

The gelding then unleashed a stunning Perth carnival campaign, winning the Hosemasters-Asian Beau Stakes (G3) first, then the Railway—by four lengths—before a half-length second in Regal Power's Kingston Town Classic on Dec. 4.

That was Peters' most recent group 1 win and was also the last time Western Empire raced anywhere, with back muscle soreness after the Kingston Town, and an operation to remove a small bone chip in a hind joint, spelling the end of his season.

Following his transfer to Melbourne and O'Brien, Western Empire tuned up with two jump-out wins last month, over 800 meters at Flemington and 900 meters at Geelong, with Graceful Girl running third in the latter.

That's helped him become one of three runners vying for second-favoritism in the Memsie—along with Tofane and the unbeaten lllation—behind the walking headline that is last-out TAB Stradbroke Handicap (G1) winner Alligator Blood.

But Peters recently said he expected Western Empire to improve on anything he showed in the Memsie, particularly with Damian Lane forced to navigate from a tricky wide gate at the Caulfield 1,400-meter start, in barrier 12 of 14.

"He's been training well. Danny's happy with him and the riders are all happy with him, but it's very hard to win in this company first-up from a long break," Peters told ANZ Bloodstock News. "You can get them fit, but you can't get them race-fit. Down in the lower grades it's possible, but this is a very classy field."