Empire wins Oaks in City of Sails

Three year old trotting filly Empire City (Volstead) proved she was all class in tonight’s $40,000 G3 What The Hill @ Woodlands Northern Trotting Oaks at the home of northern harness racing, Alexandra Park.

Trained by Phil Williamson, driver Ricky May took her straight to the top and she ran down to the wire to win by a length and a quarter from a late charging Inasinglemoment.

Empire City was clearly switching off and on during the running.

“She was. She sort of needs the other horses up on her outside to give her competition. She’s a quality filly and the race was restricted to the girls so she was always going to be hard to beat, but she’s not quite as fluent that way. When you lead and don’t have to come round them it definitely helps,” Williamson said.

EMPIRE CITY REPLAY

Empire City is owned by Peter and Janet Argus of Auckland.

“It was great for them. They had family and friends here.”

Williamson is based in the north at present. He’ll now look at racing Empire City in a Sires’ Stakes race and will consider starting her against the boys in the Group One Northern Trotting Derby.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink