Williams will find right short cuts
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday May 30, 2009
THE on-foot map-making of jockey Craig Williams will be under the spotlight before riding Melbourne filly Ortensia in the QTC Cup at Eagle Farm today, following his way-out tactics on All Silent last Saturday.Williams announced on Thursday he would handle All Silent in next Saturday's group1 Stradbroke in preference to Ortensia.Queensland stewards questioned Williams about his performance on All Silent in the Doomben 10,000 after he ended the race near the outside fence. The jockey told them he had walked the track earlier, and found the ground much faster wide in the straight. He felt that but for a couple of problems during the running, All Silent would have won instead of going down by around 1lengths in third place.The stewards only "recorded" his explanation in comparison to "accepting" trainer Grahame Begg's. Perhaps the major problem with Williams from the stipes' point of view was he didn't tell them of the ploy before the race.No doubt he will again walk the improving Eagle Farm track this morning, as will Damien Oliver (Mr Baritone) with the "divining rod" he uses to find the firmer ground.Ortensia is in the rare position of being second favourite for the Stradbroke behind All Silent, despite needing a win today to qualify.Trainer Tony Noonan has no concerns about Williams. "I am confident he is going to be the complete professional in the situation," he said.Ortensia, under Williams, covered extra ground when too good for Belong To Many in the Glenlogan Park Stakes over the Doomben 1350 metres on May16. It was a good surface whereas the filly was beaten on the Randwick slow previously. Ortensia has won on dead but obviously the firmer, the better for her. She is up in class but her potential has yet to be fully tapped.Swiss Ace and Wasted Emotions should ensure a true tempo today allowing Williams to settle Ortensia off the pace. Oliver on Mr Baritone has to come from 17, and the seven-year-old had excuses when seventh in the BTC Cup (1350m) at Doomben on May16.VERDICT: Ortensia to win and the stand-out in exotics such as the Big6, which has a carryover jackpot of $310,000, and quadrella.CAT'S PURRING: Oliver will be hoping his divining indicates off the rails is better ground because his Queensland Oaks mount, Nothin' Leica Cat, also launches from 17.The Anthony Cummings-trained Nothin' Leica Cat has had an excellent foundation, and the trainer is toying with starting her in the Queensland Derby if she goes as well as expected against her own gender. However, the most fancied in a poll of Australia's leading bookmakers conducted by Racenet is Think Money, from the Bart Cummings stable.Mark Read of IASbet.com selects Think Money and believes mudlark Purple is a lay on the score of being under the odds on an improving surface (dead5 yesterday).New Zealand has a strong team, and beware of a better showing from Juice, only 11th in the Doomben Roses last start. The filly had a torrid plane trip over here.THE VERDICT: Nothin' Leica Cat on top from Purple and Juice.OLLIE GOOD: The Oliver factor again looms large with Amberino, from the 16 gate, in the Dane Ripper Stakes. Ollie handled Court, which is opposing her, when she came from 16 to score in the BTC Classic on May16. Amberino, though, is having her first start since taking the group2 Emancipation Stakes at Randwick on April25, and the gap between runs is a concern. Belong To Many will go fast but Lee Freedman is producing a query in Dane Julia, the South African mare which triumphed in Te Aroha, New Zealand, in a group1 in April.VERDICT: Stick with Ollie on Amberino but add Court and Dane Julia in the exotics.ACADEMY REWARD: Racenet clocker Craig Tompson reckons Prince Arthur, the Bart Cummings candidate in the McKell Cup at Rosehill, has improved more than another Randwick stayer, Music Review, since they clashed at Canterbury on May16. "This week he's gone best ever in a gallop," he said.Of course, Prince Arthur will find plenty of tough opposition, and the 10 barrier could be a hurdle. Other top hopes include Lyncean Academy, Nuclear Sky and Ready To Lift.VERDICT: Lyncean Academy, but add Prince Arthur to the exotics.RAINY DAY: Sir James, another member of the Bart Cummings team, will go well in the Group One Membership Handicap, according to Tompson. "He was immature but his work has been good recently," the "Clocker" reported.A five-year-old by Montjeu, Sir James has been tuned by two runs after a spell, appreciates rain-affected ground, but his assignment is demanding against Deltona and Rain Game. Daniel Ganderton's vigour and allowance on Rain Game will help, too.VERDICT: Rain Game and Sir James in the exotics.ONE FOR US: The second-up form of Theophorus is significant in the last at Rosehill. Resuming, the gelding has won one out of five but at his next race he has scored two from two. Theophorus was sixth to Testimonial at Hawkesbury on May9, beaten only a length, and made his run on the slower section of the straight. Others on the shortlist are Gergis, Voice Commander and Prince Braeman.VERDICT: Theophorus and Gergis for the exotics.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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