When the Steve Wolfe-trained longshot Watch Me Dance won on debut at Bunbury back on January 27 he became the first winner for the former Gary Portelli-trained speedball I’m All The Talk, now five starts later and with over $361,000 in the bank he has the honour of being his sire’s first stakes-winner.
After winning at Ascot on February 22, Watch Me Dance finished second in the Group III Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and Group II Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
Sent off an odd-on favourite under Shaun McGruddy in Saturday’s Group III Amelia Park-WA Sires' Produce Stakes, the daughter of I’m All The Talk duly got the job done but she was made to fight for it by the Shooting To Win gelding Dom To Shoot.
Back on the rails in fifth spot approaching the home turn, McGruddy angled out wide to find some fresh air to gradually wear down Dom To Shoot by a head with Em Tee Aye, also by first season sire I’m All The Talk, a half lengthy back in third.
It was a fourth win in the race for McGruddy after Paris Petard (2006), Luke’s Luck (2012) and the Wolfe-trained Lordhelpmerun (2018).
Purchased by Commercial Bloodstock Services for $34,0000 at the 2019 Magic Millons Perth Yearling Sale, Watch Me Dance advances her record to 3 wins, 2 seconds and a third from six starts with earnings of $361,100.
“You come to expect the best and hope for the best, but sometimes the worst can happen in life and this industry,” Wolfe told Racing and Wagering WA.
“But this is wonderful, she is a really good filly and she did a really wonderful job.
“At the 500m I thought she might have been in trouble if she didn’t get out, but it was a very good ride by Shaun.
“She did everything right and it’s just wonderful to be able to train these types of horses.
“Now I can put her in the paddock and I can go into relax mode for a few weeks.”
Watch Me Dance is the first winner from two to race out of the stakes-placed Oratorio mare Coventry To Rio who was herself a $30,000 purchase by Neville Parnham at the 2011 Magic Million Perth Yearling Sale.
Commercial Bloodstock shelled out $60,000 to purchase a full-brother to Watch Me Dance out of the Mungrup Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
After foaling a colt by the Tapit stallion A Lot last spring, Coventry To Rio was covered by Playing God.
A son of Stratum, I’m All The Talk was a brilliant 2yo for Gary Portelli winning the Group III ATC Skyline Stakes at Warwick Farm. At three he was runner-up to Teravista in the Group II The Shorts at Randwick.
He stood at Mungrup Stud for a fee of $5,500 in 2019.
