Grant and Alana Williams: Stable stars Watch Me Rock and Storyville cleared to race despite trainer suspension

The star horses of suspended leading West Australian co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams have been cleared to continue racing in rich feature events after being offloaded to a new stable. Stewards have stood down the married couple, banning them from starting horses in races and barrier trials, pending the outcome of a positive swab inquiry which will launch on Tuesday. The prohibited substance ritalin - a human medication used in ADHD treatment - was detected in a postmortem swab from Williams-trained galloper Starry Height, who was euthanised after a leg injury in October’s Kalgoorlie Cup. Training of Watch Me Rock and Storyville will not be disrupted as they head to Melbourne autumn carnival highlights, including Flemington’s $2 million All-Star Mile. The gallopers were moved on Thursday from the premiership-winning Williams’ Hopeland property and joined trainer Donna Riordan’s small Oldbury stable. They have been entered in Tuesday’s Lark Hill barrier trials since the shift. “We approved Watch Me Rock and Storyville’s transfer,” chief steward Brad Lewis said on Thursday. “Under racing rules, connections are free to move horses to new trainers. “The horses must be based at a property listed on their official stable change (document). We have confirmed Watch Me Rock and Storyville will be supervised by Donna Riordan, and stabled at her property.” The top horses’ arrival is a bonus for Riordan, who has trained only two city winners and four on provincial tracks in this season’s first six months. Six Perth Cups, six Railway Stakes and nine WATC Derbies have been won by Williams-trained gallopers in the past 15 years. Champion jockey William Pike rode Watch Me Rock to brilliantly win November’s $1.5 million Railway Stakes at Ascot and he looks a top prospect in the All-Star Mile on March 7. Storyville has won four Ascot carnival feature events, including the Champion Fillies’ Stakes and WA Guineas. Williams Racing issued a statement saying the couple vowed to clear their names. “At no stage have we administered or authorised the administration of a prohibited substance to Starry Heights,” it said. “We have no explanation as to how how the substance could have entered the horse’s system. “Williams Racing has a lengthy and well-established record of integrity within WA racing. Our stable operates under strict internal protocols and systems.”