Williamsburg ends long drought at Rosehill after gelding operation

It was a bold decision by the owners of Williamsburg to geld the now five-year-old but it paid instant dividends at Rosehill on Saturday.

Williamsburg breaks back into the winners’ circle as a gelding at Rosehill. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Master trainer Gerald Ryan revealed Williamsburg could have been standing at stud in England rather than scoring an impressive win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“I was in England this time last year at a National Hunt Stud and they were asking me about a Snitzel stallion,” Ryan said.

“I thought this horse would have been ideal because he’s by Snitzel out of a High Chaparral mare, he’s a dual Group 1 placegetter and he’s got a sensational pedigree but the owners said no.”

Fast forward to the opening Saturday of the new season and Williamsburg continued his racing career with an impressive all-the-way win in the NSW Jockeys Association Reunion Handicap (1500m).

Williamsburg ($7.50), ridden by Tyler Schiller, never looked likely to be run down and scored by three-quarters of a length from the Joe Pride-trained duo of Estadio Mestalla ($4.80) and Testator Silens ($3.60 favourite).

Williamsburg goes straight to the front and leads the journey! 💪@[e-mail]/sDjK2FjmXd

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 3, 2024

This was also the first race Williamsburg has contested as a gelding and Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, believes the owners have a rejuvenated racehorse.

“It’s great for everyone concerned,” Ryan said.

“The owners have persevered with him and they made a big call to geld him, he’s got good Group form and he is a very well-bred horse but we might have found another string to his bow.”

Williamsburg, a dual stakeswinner, broke a winless streak that had stretched for nearly two years with his Rosehill effort.

But Ryan pointed out Williamsburg had run some very good races between wins including his third in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and multiple stakes placings including last start in the Lord Mayor’s Cup behind Eliyass in early June.

“That was the first time I reckon the horse didn’t put in, that day when he ran third in the Lord Mayors’ Cup,” Ryan said.

“He ran up to win that race and that French horse, who looked sensational, beat him.

“I said to (part-owner) Sally Williams that’s the first time I can honestly say I don’t reckon the horse gave 100 per cent.”

Williamsburg was then gelded before having a barrier trial at Rosehill late last month when the horse blitzed his rivals.

“The horse’s mannerisms at home since we gelded him have been very similar to what he was when he was a colt, he was always a quiet colt,” Ryan said.

“But his work has been sharper. Tyler has only had a few rides on him, he’s gone really well for him each time and he was rapt in his trial the other day.”

Ryan said Williamsburg is likely to be aimed at the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury later this month.

“Williamsburg’s a Five Diamonds horse and he could get into a Big Dance,” Ryan said.

“He’s run well in an Epsom before when he wasn’t in real good form and only got beaten 2½ lengths so there are plenty of races for him in the spring.”

Originally published as Williamsburg ends long drought at Rosehill after gelding operation