[1] The connections of New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Planet Rock from left, Dawn and Peter Williams (trainers), Ger Beemsterboer (owner), jockey Hayden Tinsley, Sarah Green (owner) and her son Harry. Photo by Tayler Strong. Planet Rock gave Riccarton trainers Peter and Dawn Williams the ultimate farewell present before they shift to Karaka when she won the group one New Zealand One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday.
It was the first group one win for the Williamses at Riccarton where they have been based for some 20 years. They have had group one wins with Loader at Ellerslie (Railway Handicap) and Trentham (Telegraph Handicap) in 1996 and won the 1988 Auckland Cup with Sea Swift when based at Ashburton.
Peter Williams was based at Riccarton 37 years ago when training in partnership with his father, Joe.
"It was just the time to make the shift. I am past doing a lot of travelling with horses," Peter Williams said.
They will make the move to the Byerley Park training complex on Friday week. Planet Rock will have a short spell at Wellfield Lodge stud, Palmerston North operated by her breeder Bill Gleeson, before she resumes training.
She has been withdrawn from the Levin Classic on November 25.
The Williamses have 10 horses in pre-training at Karaka. They include The Meista, who has undergone a wind operation.
Peter Williams selected Planet Rock at the 2010 premier yearling sale on behalf of Ger Beemsterboer, of the Netherlands and Sarah Green, of Ashburton.
The Fastnet Rock-Akris filly was a $290,000 purchase.
Beemsterboer and Chris Green, husband of the owner, are involved with growing and marketing seeds.
They raced Sir Frankie, winner of four of his eight starts in 2007-08 when trained by the Williamses.
Planet Rock and runner-up Abeautifulred were both bred by Gleeson, who operates the Wellfield Lodge stud.
Planet Rock was foaled in Australia when her dam, Akris, was stranded there through the equine influenza outbreak.
Fastnet Rock also sired the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner, Rock 'n' Pop.
Planet Rock is the first foal of Akris, a Zabeel mare who won over 2200m. Akris is a three-quarter sister to Manzeal and a half-sister to Gorky Park. The family is steeped in staying blood, suggesting Planet Rock will be a force in longer distance races for fillies in New Zealand and Australia.
Anabandana was a late scratching from the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas when the track became heavy.
"She is just too valuable to risk," Don Sellwood, her trainer, said.
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