Flemington: Ben Melham takes his chance on Royalzel with Craig Williams unable to take the ride
Craig Williams convinced trainer Gary Portelli to send Royalzel down to Melbourne but it was Ben Melham who left Flemington with the spoils.
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Craig Williams sure knows how to find a winner on Finals Day – even when not in the saddle.
Royalzel, the colt Williams so desperately wanted to ride he called Sydney trainer Gary Portelli last month to coax him into targeting the Taj Rossi Series Final, never looked like losing at Flemington.
With Williams stood down by Racing Victoria this week, a precaution to the recent Queensland Covid-19 outbreak, top jockey Ben Melham had the luxury of riding the Snitzel colt.
“Firstly I have to make mention of Craig Williams,” Melham said.
“Unfortunately he couldn’t ride but I believe he had a part in the planning … thanks to him.”
Williams, who was based in Queensland recently for the Brisbane winter carnival, famously rode six winners on Finals Day in 2018 and five winners at the same meeting in 2016.
He has ridden doubles at the corresponding meeting more recently.
To Melham went the spoils as Royalzel worked through the gears smartly the last 300m.
The win enhanced Melham’s association with Portelli, a partnership which ironically also started with the pick-up ride on victorious Rebel Dane in the 2016 Group 1 Manikato Stakes.
A year later Melham won the Golden Slipper aboard Portelli’s star filly She Will Reign.
Royalzel could be another worth following in the future.
“He looks to have a good turn-of-foot,” Melham said.
“He feels a little bit brilliant to go much further (in distance) at this stage of his career but who is to say that as he matures, he’s got the natural ability there and Gary knows what he’s doing.
“He’ll certainly be a contender in the spring.”
Fighting win by Astrologist a good sign
The Astrologist kept finding under pressure to hold out Banquo in the Listed All Victorian Sprint Final (1200m) at Flemington.
Banquo looked set to glide past The Astrologist late in the piece but the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Zoustar gelding responded to the urgings of jockey Damien Thornton.
The Astrologist also prevailed in similar circumstances last start at Flemington.
William Thomas came with a searching run along the rail but peaked on the effort to finish third.
“I thought Banquo had me on toast there inside the 100 (metre mark) and I knew we were in the fight,“ Thornton said.
“But it had a reputation of not quite getting there.
“It was a really good win, toughed it out and he’s obviously on the up.”
The Astrologist’s second win at Flemington was just reward for the Zoustar gelding who raced well without much luck during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Co-trainer Troy Corstens credited the gelding‘s “tough and honest character” for the performances.
“He’s a funny horse. He looks like a drunken sailor coming down the straight but he just keeps going,“ Corstens said.
“He doesn’t know how to stop and sprint but he just keeps going that one pace and it gets the rest off the bridle.
“Clearly he had some good runs up there (Queensland) and got him very fit.
“I think coming back, just dropping him back in grade it was just a good plan that really came off.”
Originally published as Flemington: Ben Melham takes his chance on Royalzel with Craig Williams unable to take the ride
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