SPORT West’s best in double-up

GRANT Williams’ journey from West Australia was made complete with a one-two finish in the second running of the All-Star Mile at Caulfield.

A week after the deflating defeat of Regal Power in the Australian Cup at Flemington, Williams, who trains in partnership with his wife Alana, rebounded when the gelding held off stablemate Superstorm to win yesterday’s $5 million race.

With stable jockey Willie Pike, Regal Power ($11) defeated Superstorm ($15) with New Zealand mare Melody Belle ($4.20) third.

Owners of the 15 runners yesterday, along with racegoers, were locked out of yesterday’s meeting due to the threat of coronavirus, while Alana was back in Perth looking after the stable’s runners at Ascot.

Williams said he and Pike hated losing and were dejected after Regal Power finished second to Fifty Stars at Flemington last week.

That was the second successive placing he and Pike had endured in Melbourne after Superstorm was beaten by Alligator Blood in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on February 29.

“We love winning, we hate running second,” Williams said.

“That was a race that we set him for, so I’m just rapt for Willie, he’s a gun, that he’s won today.

“It kills me when I hear blokes on the radio bagging him as he’s a quality human.”

Regal Power and Superstorm are raced by Bob and Sandra Peters, Perth’s leading owners, and Williams said everyone worked as a team.

After a successful Perth summer carnival that included Regal Power winning the Group One Railway Stakes, Williams wanted to showcase the horses’ talents in Melbourne.

Williams said he expected Superstorm to develop into Perth’s leading racehorse next season after heading to Melbourne as a travelling companion for Regal Power.

“He’s a quality animal and will probably be our best horse in 12 months,” Williams said.

“He’s grown up a lot.”