Stormy Witness provided an unexpected result in the 1400m Highway at Rosehill Gardens in the second week of the Spring.
This was to be her first run since representing the stable twice in G1 company in the Autumn of 2023 in the 2000m Vinery Stud Stakes and the 2400m ATC Oaks.
Somewhat overlooked in the ‘gang’ of four other Danny Williams runners in the race and without a public outing since her previous run, it had been anticipated that she would be wanting for the outing as she worked her way on to further distances and duly started at healthy odds of around 30/1.
Dropping back to a much easier grade of racing, she jumped well and put herself right in the race for jockey Reece Jones and the pair received a charmed run in the box seat, extricating off the fence after cornering and wearing down the race leader Ollie’s Secret who had kicked clear and nearly pinched the race for himself.
Reece Jones returns victorious on Stormy Witness.
Post-race Danny credited the 4YO mare’s toughness and scope to get out over a trip to the win along with a return to a Good track surface. While she had made an impression in her work at home, sufficient to ‘throw her in the deep end’ in the Autumn, without a fitness building trial or jump-out it was thought she may have lacked the fitness to perform as well as she did in this first-up run.
Stormy Witness was a $26,000 buy for the Danny Williams team from the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale in 2021 and has easily returned that and more in her seven starts to date, with her first win at her third start in a 1300m Country Maiden at Goulburn.
This is a sale the stable has seen great success at securing warriors like 100+ start reaching My Blue Jeans and visited again this year to purchase two other promising types.
The victory also marked the second Highway win for the Goulburn team in as many weeks.
Congratulations to her owners and here’s to the preparation ahead.
STORMY WITNESS: 7-2:1:1 – $86,675
OWNERS: Mr CM Mackintosh, Mrs J L Mackintosh, Mr D M Delle Coste, Mr T R Brabender, Last Five Percent , Mr D Calabria, Mr G Johnston, W B Rosser, Mrs S M Connelly, Danny Williams Racing
Photo credit: Bradley Photos