By Scott Bailey
Racing colours often carry the weight of history, family and identity — but every now and then, a set of silks tells a story that stretches across states, generations and friendships. The royal blue and lime green diagonal stripes with a lime green cap, now synonymous with Railway Stakes favourite Watch Me Rock, are one such example.
Once best known in South Australia through respected Morphettville trainer Gary Kennewell, the colours have enjoyed an unexpected second life through the passion and loyalty of owner Santo Guagliardo and the Ridgeport team. What began simply as a shared interest between two racing men has evolved into a decades-long friendship, producing winners across three states and giving new meaning to one of Australian racing’s most distinctive sets of silks.
The colours shifted west when Gary and Santo strengthened their bond, and today they are seen regularly at Ascot and Belmont, carried by horses across multiple Western Australian stables while still maintaining a proud connection to South Australia. Gary’s son, Lloyd Kennewell, has kept the tradition alive in Victoria — most recently saddling Wednesdays Caulfield winner On Broadway, ridden by Mark Zahra, under the Ridgemont banner.
But the story of Watch Me Rock is far deeper and more emotional than a lineage of colours.
His very existence is a testament to the owner’s patience. As Santo recalls speaking to iRace ahead of this weekend’s Group 1 Railway Stakes:
“Marge Ojapold, who saved the mare (What Choux Want) while she was in foal, had a tough time with her — and the foal (Watch Me Rock) was born very backwards.”
“The mare had her struggles. The foal struggled. But over time he grew up fine”
“It’s always an expensive journey from weanling to yearling then to the racetrack,” Santo explained. “They didn’t have any luck trying to sell him at the sales (passed in at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions Sale for $37,500), so Marge asked if I wanted to go in — and I did. She gave a share to Ben and also Angie Blaskovic. They and the Williams team have all done such a great job to get him to where he is, and now he is a live chance in a Railway Stakes.”
For many South Australian racing fans, the colours evoke memories of Kennewell’s days at Cheltenham and Morphettville. Gary officially retired from training in November 2017, with his final winner coming at Gawler when Don’t Cry Wolf, ridden by Joe Bowditch, saluted at his second-last runner.
“Gary and I have been mates for a long time,” Santo said. “The best horse we had together was Conservatorium.”
The gelding was a talented sprinter who won Group 2 and Group 3 races at Ascot in 2013 before heading east to win a Listed race in Queensland. He also came agonisingly close to Group 1 glory, finishing half a length behind Platelet in the Goodwood.
“When Gary decided to stop training, he offered me the colours. I’d always said how much I liked them — they just stand out in a race.”
Santo’s dream now is simple:
“It would be great to see these colours get a Group 1.”
The dream may be closer than ever. Not only does Watch Me Rock line up as one of the favourites, but Ridgeport also has Bustler, from the Neville Parnham stable, carrying the same colours. “He’s a sneaky chance at big odds,” Santo added.
As always, half the intrigue heading into a Railway Stakes revolves around which horse William Pike chooses. And this year, as Santo puts it, the decision was straightforward:
“Pikie has always loved him.”
For any owner, there’s no better endorsement.
The Ridgeport name appears less frequently now compared to the heavy presence of past years, but the ambition remains undiminished.
“Our main aim is breeding and just looking to find that one good one,” Santo explained. “A good colt is great, but 99% end up getting gelded — so it’s all about finding that next good one.”
That next good one may already be in front of him.
From a foal “born very backwards” to a rising star of Western Australian racing, Watch Me Rock has walked the hardest possible path to reach the Railway Stakes.
And as he steps out wearing the colours born in South Australia, nurtured through friendship, and carried proudly across three states, he is more than just a favourite.
He is everything that makes racing special, and the hope that one day, those royal blue and lime green stripes will finish first past the winning post in a Group 1.
