Williamsburg’s owners and chief trainer Gerald Ryan made the bold decision to geld their thoroughbred ahead of the 2024/25 racing season. Their call has immediately paid off.
The rising six-year-old Williamsburg won his first race after being gelded. The son of Snitzel finished first in the NSW Jockeys Association Reunion Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Racecourse on Saturday.
On pedigree alone, Williamsburg is one of the top horses racing in Australia right now. Both the thoroughbred’s sire, Snitzel, and dam, Fenway, were consistent runners in Group 1 races before their retirements.
Snitzel was especially prolific. The Oakleigh Plate winner has been named Australian Champion Sire four times. Only one horse has won the award more times than Snitzel in the last 30 years.
Given his strong pedigree, his trainer considered selling him to a stud farm in England last year.
“I was in England this time last year at a National Hunt Stud and they were asking me about a Snitzel stallion,” trainer Gerald Ryan said on Saturday.
“I thought this horse (Williamsburg) would have been ideal because he’s by Snitzel out of a High Chaparral mare,” Ryan continued “He’s a dual Group 1 placegetter and he’s got a sensational pedigree but the owners said no.”
Instead of selling Williamsburg, the five-year-old was gelded this year. This big decision is already looking like a smart one.
While Ryan questioned whether it was better off to sell Williamsburg last year, the son of Snitzel has been in good form to end the 2023/2024 horse racing season.
Williamsburg has delighted horse racing betting fans by showing in four of his last five races. In his last race before his gelding, the five-year-old finished third in the Lord Mayor's Cup at Randwick.
After his gelding, NSW Jockeys Association Reunion Handicap on Saturday. This was Williamsburg’s first win since his top place finish in the Drinkwise Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in October 2022.
After admitting that he had pushed to sell Williamsburg, trainer Gerald Ryan was keen to praise his horse at Rosehill on Saturday.
“It’s (the win is) 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.”
Ryan noted how the gelding has already made Williamsburg a better horse.
“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.
“But his work has been sharper. Tyler (Schiller) 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.”
Williamsburg is set to run in the 1600m Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on August 22.
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