The tale of the Champion Fillies Stakes: Pike, the Williams’ and Storyville

Posted by RS NewsWire at 11:09am on November 18th

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.”

More Racing News

Extra distance calling Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot

Lady Of Camelot may have come up short in last Saturday’s $3m Magic Millions Sunlight, but her connections were far from disheartened by the performance. The filly, a former Golden Slipper champion, finished second to Private Harry in the 1100m race, leading her team to believe she could excel over longer...

Yesterday

Bjorn Baker cheering O’ Ole for more Millions magic

There’s a sense of history repeating itself for Bjorn Baker after his filly O’ Ole drew barrier three for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic, the same gate his sole winner in the race, Unencumbered drew in 2014, and Baker has followed a similar path this time around. Both Unencumbered and O’ Ole won...

Yesterday

Something about Mary at Mornington

Mary Eliza, a daughter of one of New Zealand’s top staying mares has broken her maiden at Mornington, with the progeny of three-time Group 1 winner Bonneval taking out the 1500m contest by 1.5 lengths. The switch from Caulfield Heath to Mornington didn’t worry the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman trained...

Yesterday

Officials confident in Gold Coast track

The location of Saturday’s Magic Millions race day hinges on a gallop of six horses and leading jockeys, to take place early Thursday morning. A section of the Gold Coast track was discovered to be damaged last week which forced Saturday night’s meeting to be transferred to the Sunshine Coast, but...

Yesterday

Kelly Schweida seeking more Magic Millions success

Kelly Schweida has won a Magic Millions race twice in his expansive training career and will take a competitive team to Saturday’s meeting, headlined by Miss Joelene and Hella Fast. Miss Joelene backs up after taking out the $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at Sunshine Coast on Saturday and will line up in the...

Yesterday

Fire damages Caulfield stands, treated as suspicious

A fire has broken out in the Norman Robinson stand at Caulfield racecourse on Tuesday morning, with the blaze being treated as suspicious. Fire fighters were called to Caulfield shortly after 6:00am on Tuesday with one stand ablaze, incorporating seating and hospitality areas. No one was injured however Victoria Police confirmed the...

Jan 7th

Icarian Dream’s odds drift after outside barrier draw in 2025 Magic Millions Classic

One time Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite, Icarian Dream has drawn the outside barrier in Saturday’s feature. Ciaron Maher’s quest for a third Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) in five years has just gotten a bit harder after his sole runner Icarian Dream drew barrier 21 of 21 for the $3...

Jan 7th

Life changing win for Doyle in Magic Millions Sunlight

Newcastle-based trainer Nathan Doyle and Welsh jockey Ashley Morgan achieved the most significant moment in their respective careers when Private Harry raced away to win the inaugural running of the $3 million The Sunlight (1100m) at Sunshine Coast. It was four wins in four starts for Private Harry – a son of Harry Angel...

Jan 6th

Chrissie likely to sit out Standish Handicap

Ciaron Maher is likely to resist testing Mrs Chrissie at the Flemington 1200 metres for the first time in next Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m), instead setting his sights on a Listed race over a shorter trip on the Australia Day weekend. The speedster will most likely next run on January 25,...

Jan 6th

Apollo Stakes return planned for Ceolwulf

It is just under six weeks until Ceolwulf is scheduled to make his return to the races and trainer Joe Pride says the dual Group One winner is shaping up as a “bigger, stronger horse” heading into the autumn. Ceolwulf announced himself as one of the rising stars of the Australian turf...

Jan 6th