Preludes to shape Williams’ Blue Diamond decision
CRAIG Williams will make a call on who he will ride in the Blue Diamond after he rides Catchy and Property in this weekend’s two Preludes.
CRAIG Williams will make a call on who he will ride in the Blue Diamond after he rides Catchy and Property in this weekend’s two Preludes, races he expects to reshape the market for the Group 1 feature.
Asked if Formality, the filly he partnered to a cosy win in last Saturday’s Chairman’s Stakes, was the deserving Blue Diamond favourite, Williams offered an emphatic “no” on Radio TAB’s Past The Post on Sunday.
“It’s pretty simple. The market will be framed this Saturday. We compete with the Sydney horses. Catchy runs again, Property runs again. Whatever you see now is going to change,” he said.
“My decision will be made after this weekend. Saturday will tell the story.”
Williams has an embarrassment of riches to choose from, having ridden Catchy, Property, Formality, Jukebox and Tulip — a quintet that make up five of the top seven places in betting — in each of their starts to date.
Last year Damien Oliver opted for runner-up Flying Artie over eventual winner Extreme Choice in the Blue Diamond, but Williams said his decision may also hinge on long-term prospects over the cash grab of a Blue Diamond.
“It’s a great position to be in,” he said.
“To be honest, all those horses, they are not just Blue Diamond horses. It’s about what they can potentially do as Classic horses or in a Golden Slipper. Three weeks away is still a long way to go.
“Don’t worry, there will be a lot of jockeys and managers trying to force my hand now. Fortunately I don’t have to. Time is on my side and with two-year-olds, it’s a great side to be on because they are a day-by-day proposition.”
Williams was among those to pay tribute to Darren Gauci on Saturday, even though the much-acclaimed rider probably cost him riding a fourth winner at the meeting.
Williams rode the short-priced favourite Hursley, who had no room in the straight as Gauci notched a popular final victory on Goodwill.
“I followed (Goodwill) the whole race and Darren Gauci was at that horse from the 1200m mark. All I wanted to do was get off its back and it was amazing it stuck on,” Williams said.
“It was really fitting for him to go out on such a high. He’s been a great role model.”
â– THE Golden Slipper puzzle will start to take place on Monday morning with top fancies Khan (Gosford) and She Will Reign (Warwick Farm) set to trial.
One UBET punter on Sunday had $5000 on Khan at $11 to win the Slipper.
Originally published as Preludes to shape Williams’ Blue Diamond decision
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