The tale of the Champion Fillies Stakes: Pike, the Williams’ and Storyville
The all-conquering triumvirate of co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams and champion jockey William Pike enhanced their Group 3 Champion Fillies (1600m) reputation after the sensational win of Storyville at Ascot on Saturday.
Coming from a mile back and looking to have the job ahead of her as the field straightened for the run home, Storyville, was in danger of meeting bad luck for the second time after her 8th in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m).
But, in typical trademark style, once William Pike was able to weave his way between runners and get Storyville into the clear, the Overshare filly sprouted wings late to defeat Ron’s Finalflutter by 1 3/4 lengths with Flower Of Gold third.
Storyville, who has banked three wins from six starts and will have an army of admirers next week against the boys in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m), continued an amazing Champion Fillies record for the Williams’ and Pike.
The Williams team have won it seven times after enjoying success previously with Keshi Boom (2023), Tuscan Queen (2020), Arcadia Queen (2019), Perfect Reflection (2026), Delicacy (2025) and Dreamaway (2011).
Pike has six Champion Fillies trophies and shares five with the William’s combination, Keshi Boom, Tuscan Queen, Perfect Reflection and Dreamaway after booting home his maiden victory aboard the John Price-trained Danebeela in 2009.
Williams (Grant) conceded there were a few anxious moments in running, but he had trust in the horse, who he rates highly and the sublime skills of his jockey to get the job done when it mattered the most.
“Gee, it’s good when he’s in this sort of form,” Williams said of Pike.
“Although we had our hearts in our mouth.
“We were concerned about the speed on paper.
“When you get up to these sort of races with three-year-old fillies, half of them can’t get the mile.
“They go into it because it’s the Champion Fillies, but with that in mind you can be a little bit conservative if you have something under the bonnet, which after today, we have.
“I’ve had a rap on this horse from day dot and she goes really good.”
After Storyville beat the best of the girls, Williams is keen to take on the boys and butter up in next week’s WA Guineas.
“They are only three once,” Williams said.
“She’s in really good nick this horse.
“If she pulls up good you probably have to have a go at the Guineas.
“This blew me away.”
Pike equally lavished praise on Storyville and her acclaimed trainers.
“I had the right horse and the right trainers,” Pike said.
“Three starts ago if you said I was going to sit last and win a mile I would say no way.
“That’s what these guys (Williams’) are capable of.”
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