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Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Williamsburg likely to get chance in The Ingham after Festival Stakes defeat

Williamsburg could get a chance for revenge in next Saturday’s The Ingham following his luckless defeat in the Festival Stakes. Plus, horses to follow and Ron Dufficy’s snapshot.

Mitch Cohen
Williamsburg (outside) and Grebeni fought out the Festival Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Williamsburg (outside) and Grebeni fought out the Festival Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
5 min read
4:08PMDecember 03, 2023.
Updated 4:48PMDecember 03, 2023

Luckless entire Williamsburg looks set to get the chance to exact immediate revenge on Festival Stakes rival Phearson with trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou keen to back him up in next Saturday’s $2m Group 2 The Ingham (1600m).

Williamsburg was unable to win last Saturday’s Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) on the track or in the stewards’ room despite copping interference in the Rosehill Gardens feature.

The Ryan and Alexiou-trained galloper was hampered when third placegetter Rustic Steel shifted in while jockey Tyler Schiller also felt Phearson drifting out had impact Williamsburg’s chances.

Stewards felt there wasn’t enough to overturn the protest but Alexiou admitted post-race that Williamsburg would save plenty of energy in the luckless run.

It will likely see the stable have a crack at The Ingham next Saturday at Royal Randwick.

“It’s a big possibility now,” Alexiou said.

“I think he obviously hasn’t had a hard run (on Saturday) and has been held up to the line.

“It’s probably not a race that’s going to suck everything out of him so that this stage I reckon he will line up.

“We’ve backed him up before.”

Phearson (left) is also a chance to run in The Ingham. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Phearson (left) is also a chance to run in The Ingham. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Williamsburg has backed up twice in his career including earlier this spring in the Epsom Handicap following his second in the Shannon Stakes.

Festival Stakes winner trainer Brad Widdup confirmed after the race that he “wouldn’t be frightened” to back-up the winner Phearson next week after jockey Tom Sherry had booted the son of Exosphere home on the weekend.

Rustic Steel’s trainer Kris Lees said before the Festival Stakes he planned to back-up his gelding in The Ingham where he is rated a $9 chance.

The last time Lees backed up Rustic Steel the gelding won The Coast and the Scone Cup in the space of six days last year.

The Gong winner Detonator Jack will be kept in Sydney to target The Ingham after connections had originally planned to head to the Ballarat Cup (2000m).

Jason Collett will continue his partnership with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Detonator Jack, which is the $4 favourite for The Ingham.

Chris Waller’s smart four-year-old Osipenko is on the second line of betting at $6.

The Ingham Stakes card will be supported by the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m), the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) as well as the $500,000 Inglis Nursery Stakes (1000m).

Unraced two-year-old Jupiter Hills will look to continue Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s winning run in the Inglis Nursery.

Waterhouse and Bott will also have a strong hand in Sydney with Surf Dancer and Dajraan both possible starters in the The Ingham (1600m).

MITCH COHEN’S BLACKBOOK

FIVE TO FOLLOW

STORM BOY (race 1)

Another week and yet another highly promising Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained juvenile introduced himself with a dominant debut win. He’s a major player for the Magic Millions.

STATE OF AMERICA (race 3)

He ended up getting shuffled back to last before working home strongly for third when he finally got clear air. Stay with him in similar grade next time.

LEKVARTE (race 5)

Joseph Pride has this mare absolutely flying this preparation and she delivered again with another strong win. She can give the Belle Of The Turf a shake next start.

WILLIAMSBURG (race 7)

The smart entire was unlucky not to win the Festival Stakes after surging home following some interference. If he backs up next week, he can feature in the finish.

TAZARAL (race 7)

He only got clear air at the furlong pole in the Festival Stakes but worked home nicely first up from a spell for fifth. He looks to be in for a nice preparation.

STEWARDS SAY

Tanglewood (race 4): Had to be scratched after sustaining multiple lacerations to its near hind leg in the float on the way to the track. Needs veterinary clearance to race again.

Williamsburg (race 7): Was hampered when taken in by Rustic Steel and became awkwardly placed near the heels of Phearson, which shifted marginally. Jockey Tyler Schiller failed in a bid to protest the result.

Dragonstone (race 8): Was found to be three out of five lame in the off foreleg after winning the Starlight Stakes. He will required veterinary clearance before running again.

Quick Tempo (race 8): Raced wide without cover and was inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight. Failed to finish off as he usually does which may have been due to the seven-day back-up.

Smashing Eagle (race 10): Hampered when Nash Rawiller pleaded guilty to careless riding after allowing Liberty Sun to shift in across the rightful running of the gelding at the 100m.

CRUNCH TIME

Storm Boy (race 1): Did the damage early, running the first 100m in 8.29sec to find the front. He controlled from there and ran his last 600m in 33.81sec.

Williamsburg (race 7): Finished off the best of any horse in the Festival Stakes despite copping interference. He ran the last 600m in 33.62sec with a 10.93sec split.

Dragonstone (race 8): The money was right when he ripped home from the back to win the Starlight Stakes, clocking an impressive 32.66sec for his last 600m in his last to first effort.

Legio Ten (race 10): Had all 11 of his rivals in the run in front of him before producing a powerful turn of speed down the outside to win. He flew home in 33.04sec with a 10.79sec fast furlong.

TRACK TALK

“Even out the back, sometimes he doesn’t want to come into the enclosure so he has got it in him to be very quirky.” Brad Widdup on Phearson.

“I think he has been busting to win a race, we just need something to go right for him for a change.” Sterling Alexiou on Williamsburg.

“He sprinted off a twenty-cent piece.” Sam Clipperton on Dragonstone.

“He might have just earned his ticket to Dubai.” Mike Cattell on Zegalo.

“If I can get this horse over to an Ascot Gold Cup, he will run the 4000m.” Cattell again.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Zegalo opened at $18 and was backed into $10, although it held just under 10 per cent of all outlays.

Phearson pulled off a big upset, saluting at $17 from a very unlucky Williamsburg, while favourite Rustic Steel had to settle for third. Phearson attracted no attention from punters with just under five per cent of the TAB hold.

Dragonstone attracted all the late money and shot home to win at $3.80 after opening at $6. A bet of $7000 was taken on the gelding.

Stockman, at the juicy odds of $15.10 on the tote, upset Little Mix ($6.50) by a nose. One punter had a $6000 place bet on Little Mix.

RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY

The 2YO Storm Boy may have had favours up front but you have to be impressed the way he sprinted home at his debut winning by a space.

He looked a real Magic Millions contender.

FORGET THE RAN.

Williamsburg just got into that scrimmage in the straight putting him off balance.

With a clear run he more than likely wins.

THE BLACKBOOK

California Grass was only third-up at 2000m and made nice ground late, he will be hard to beat if he finds a similar type of race next time.

Outside of her the 2YO Storm Boy looks a real talent.

RIDE OF THE DAY.

Tommy Sherry is riding consistently and his hard work is paying off with a winning double with a great ride on Philipsburg riding him closer and he rated the feature winner on the day Phearson well.

THE SCHEDULE

Monday: Ballina, Queanbeyan

Tuesday: Corowa, Narromine

Wednesday: Warwick Farm

Thursday: Gosford

Friday: Canterbury Park, Scone

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange, Parkes, Albury, Moulamein

Sunday: Hawkesbury, Nowra

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/horse-racing/mitch-cohens-blackbook-williamsburg-likely-to-get-chance-in-the-ingham-after-festival-stakes-defeat/news-story/d4329f69a8241f423cf3421054b0735a