A two time stakes-winner that was second in last year’s Group II WATC Derby, five year-old Pride of Dubai gelding Buckets Ridge was back in top form at Ascot on Saturday when winning the $125,000 Listed WATC GA Towton Cup (2200m).
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams and ridden by Billy Egan, Buckets Ridge surged to the lead with a furlong to run and stuck to his guns holding off a determined bid from runner-up and race favourite Forever Boy to win by half a length.
“When Billy (Egan) got off him last start he said he would win his next start,” said Grant Williams, who is looking towards the $1million Group II WATC Perth Cup on January 1 for the talented stayer.
“We thought he was our leading chance for the race last year, but then he had a few issues, he flipped himself over and then we couldn’t get him back.
“Lucky for us he spelled really well down at Amelia Park and now he’s won so it’s on to the Perth Cup.”
With his third stakes win, Buckets Ridge advances his record to six wins and three placings from 22 starts with earnings in excess of $480,000.
A $75,000 Magic Millions Perth purchase for Neil Henchie from the Amelia Park Racing and Breeding draft, Buckets Ridge is the best of two winners from Reveille, a four-time winning High Chaparral (IRE) half-sister to stakes-winner Toropa from Europa Point.
Reveille traces back to the foundation mare Marooned Lady, the dam of Champion 3YO Filly Special Harmony, the granddam of $10.7million earning multiple Group I winner Fangirl, and Group II winners King Canute and Redwoldt.
Reveille has foaled this spring producing a filly by Playing God.
Pride of Dubai has three entries for Magic Millions 2026 and six for Inglis Classic.
