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Raciest Women in the WEST
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BY DAVID HOUSTON
He is the Sheikh of Albany and more used to cuddling woolly ewes than beautiful women but Steve Wolfe has found the key to maintaining successful relationships. Seizing upon the opportunity provided by the Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus he selected and purchased a thoroughbred yearling at the Perth ’19 sale then found a group of women to own and race it. This is part of their story.
With connections in Albany and Kalgoorlie the women’s syndicate grew to 16. There is the breeder, the trainer’s wife, clients’ partners, wives and daughters, many of whom had never met but a fast racehorse attracts fast women and tons of fun.
Ably directed by Wolfey, this energetic, vibrant group of women are enjoying the racing ride of a lifetime. With the prospect of running in the lucrative Magic Millions 2YO Classic and competing for the Racing Women’s Bonus at Pinjarra ’20 the syndicate members formed a chat group ‘cause as they admitted they are good at that. Many of the syndicate were first time owners and this added incentive to be involved was just the excuse they needed to spend up on dresses, shoes, hand bags and hair. Wolfey what have you started? WATCH ME DANCE (I’m All The Talk) they said and dancing they are. While the ladies did take a little bit of the bonus in running 3rd in the 2020 Pinjarra 2YO Classic it is what has happened since that has added inches to these ladies Heels.
An Ascot win leading up to the G2 Karrakatta in which Watch Me Dance ran a very very close 2nd then a wonderful win in the G3 Sires Produce lead the filly to being crowned WA’s Champion 2YO of the Year. More dresses and shoes to attend the gala presentation where the trainer’s wife admitted she didn’t have anything to do with the filly’s programing only the accounts so she was “Cooking the Books”. What to do now? Well text each other in anticipation, go shopping. Simply wait to get back to the races. In the meantime however there is the younger full brother purchased at the 2020 Perth Yearling Sale to think about. A lovely colt that cost twice as much as his sister but no one is worried because the boys will pay for it.
Back to the races at Belmont, a short spell and then to Ascot as a 3YO and Watch Me Dance did just that. Listed placed then an exciting win in the G3 Champion Fillies and then backing up to beat the boys in the G2 WA Guineas has propelled Watch Me Dance and this group of women to the top of a mountain that they didn’t know existed. The Owners Only Deck has been party central. Such was the excitement and celebrations after the Champion Fillies some of the connections were politely escorted off course but who can blame them for their exuberance.
To date Watch Me Dance’s prizemoney total is $729,555 off a purchase price of $34,000 so there is another problem, what to do with the money? There are lots of ideas ranging from holidays, travel, jewellery, something for the kids, sail boat, more horses and a marriage (don’t know what the backup plan for that is). The experience of this ownership group has been amazing with new friendships and the thrill of thoroughbred racing. The women are sharing their superstitions, their shopping habits and form analysis. The filly will be back to the races soon and in the meantime her little brother has shown immense ability and will also be racing for the big prizes. We have Watched them Dance, will we Hear Them Sing? In a year that has seen the world turned on its head, and we hope we will never see the like of again, it has been the racing industry that has helped maintain sanity. There truly is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man or a woman. With the sales just around the corner the opportunity is there again for women to get involved in ownerhip and shoot for the bonuses on offer, so much fun to be had.
