Western Empire gears up for yet another spring carnival with Lark Hill hit-out

Western Empire continued his preparations towards feature race defences this Ascot carnival when he finished runner-up in a Lark Hill 1100m heat on Monday morning.

The nine-year-old travelled smoothly outside of Ourgirlcanrun throughout before the latter booted off the final bend to go a length clear.

Shaken up, Ourgirlcanrun drew steadily further away from Western Empire, who was largely untested by William Pike in second place. The eventual margin between the pair was more than two lengths.

Western Empire, the 2021 Group 1 Railway Stakes winner, also finished second in the 2025 edition before placing in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes last year.

The son of Iffraaj staged a three-run preparation through the colder months earlier this year and won at each start, claiming the Belmont Sprint, Hyperion Stakes and Strickland Stakes between distances of 1400m and 2000m.

The $3.8 million earner won a 950m trial on September 21 and was transferred to Jason Pateman from Grant and Alana Williams after they were dealt a 12-month suspension last week.

Pike earlier rode Watch Me Rock, who was instead transferred to Donna Riordan to continue his preparation towards Group 1 targets when finishing second behind Bondi’s Future in an 1100m heat.

Those two raced together throughout and despite coming under less pressure than Watch Me Rock, Bondi’s Future found extra to salute by a neck.

Watch Me Rock had also finished second in a trial a fortnight ago and his next race appearance will be just his third start since a narrow second placing in last year’s Northerly Stakes, which in turn followed a Railway win.

Nonetheless, it was an encouraging display from winner Bondi’s Future, who has not been sighted at the races in two and a half years.

Adam Durrant and the Cosgrove family have taken a steady approach with the now six-year-old, trialling him once in February before four trials across July, August, September and October.

Later, Hot And High forecast a promising four-year-old season when leading throughout to beat London’s Image in a 930m trial.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot has been beaten only once in her seven-start career, going down by a nose in the Raconteur Stakes in June before rebounding to take the Belmont Guineas two weeks later.

Meanwhile, Bob Peters will continue to mull Cosmic Crusader’s next start with a decision to be made later this week on whether he will next start in the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.

“I think I just want to wait another day or two,” Peters said.

“He’s pulled up pretty good. There’s a lot to consider. Those international horses are very hard to beat wherever you go.

“We have to (decide) because we’ve got to work out his work and what he’s going to do.”

Peters remains confident that despite being untested at 2400m, Cosmic Crusader would get the Caulfield Cup distance.

“I’ve got the feeling that he will (run the distance), but you never know,” he said.