Randwick inside mail: Kreon carries trainer Danny Williams’ Country Championships hopes

Danny Williams was forced to end the Country Championships campaign of a promising galloper but is hoping a stablemate can go some way to filling the void in the Highway at Randwick.

Trainer Danny Williams was forced to end the Country Championships campaign of promising Highway Strip before it had even begun earlier this week but he’s hoping Kreon can go some way to filling the void in the TAB Highway (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Williams revealed both talented sprinters worked together at Goulburn during the week and pulled up with hoof problems.

Highway Strip’s issue was significant enough for Williams to bring the three-year-old’s preparation to a premature end but although the trainer reported Kreon’s issue to Racing NSW stewards, it is only minor and won’t prevent the grey four-year-old from starting in the Highway.

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“Kreon had a gallop with Highway Strip on Wednesday and worked really well,’’ Williams said.

“But he came back with his right front shoe missing and he had chipped a little bit of his foot away.

“We had the farrier come and we put a bit of filler to secure the shoe on better but there is no issue with the horse, he is ready to go for Saturday.

“Unfortunately, Highway Strip has been having some problems with his feet for a while now and we have decided to abort this preparation. He’s a very good horse in the making and we want to look after him.’’

Williams is sweating on Kreon and stablemates Exit Fee and She Within doing enough in the Highway to impress their claims for the lucrative Country Championships series.

Kreon has been unplaced in both starts this campaign but Williams described the grey as a “very unlucky horse”.

“First-up at Wyong we were very confident the horse would win but he lunged forwards before the gates opened and then he took a step backwards, missed the start and got a long way back,’’ Williams said.

“Then last start he drew an average gate and in a slowly run race, I thought he ran OK.

“He’s not the type of horse that can sit back and then rattle off brilliant sectionals. He needs to be rolling and building his momentum through a race.

Danny Williams has three runners in the TAB Highway at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I’m hopeful from his good gate (seven) on Saturday he can be in the first half of the field somewhere and moving into the race from the turn.

“There is not a lot between Kreon and Highway Strip, but Kreon has been unlucky with barrier draws and feet issues.

“This is the best we have had him going into this race and I think he is well above the odds.’’

Kreon is at $8.50 in latest TAB betting with stablemates Exit Fee at $6 and She Within rated at generous odds of $21 behind $4.40 favourite Lisztomania.

“Exit Fee ran particularly well first-up before his fitness ran out the last 100m,’’ Williams said of the gelding’s fourth behind unbeaten mare Clear Thinking and Highway Strip at Randwick two weeks ago.

“The form out of that race is one of the stronger Highways we have seen for a long time and a repeat of that run would put Exit Fee in the finish.

“I have a very high opinion of She Within, I would probably put her a little ahead of Exit Fee, so if they get even luck from their wide barriers, both will run well.’’

BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

RACE 1: Oh Diamond Lil $2.50-$2.20, Piraeus $6-$4.80, Irish Bliss $8-$7.50

RACE 2: Lisztomania $6-$4.40 including a place bet of $2000 at $2.20, Exit Fee $15-$6, Chidiac $15-$10

RACE 3: Extractor $4.60-$3.70 with a bet of $2000 at $4.20, Beiwacht $6-$4.80, Anarchist $11-$8.50, Benevac $21-$15 after a $3000 e/w bet at $16/$4.40

RACE 4: Point And Shoot $2.80-$2.60 with a $2000 bet at $2.60, Puntin $6-$3.80 with a $2000 bet at $5, Depth Of Character $15-$10, Emmadella $26-$19 after a $2000 e/w bet at 26/$6

RACE 5: It’s A Knockout $4.60-$3.70, Queen Of The Mile $6-$5.50, Llandwyn $8-$7, Kimberley Secrets $15-$11

RACE 6: The Black Cloud $4.60-$4.40, Shezanalister $6-$5, World Alliance $15-$10, Sparring $51-$41

RACE 7: Price Tag $4-$3.50, Rivellino $6-$4.80, Within The Law $6-$5.50, Bellazaine $11-$7.50

RACE 8: Gatsby’s $2.80-$2.70, Snow In May $11-$6.50, Public Attention $11-$8, Just Party $15-$13, Goodlucktome $51-$34

RACE 9: Headley Grange $2.80-$2.40 after a bet of $2500 at $2.30, Birdman $15-$8, Aberlour $11-$9 Wymark $15-$11

RACE 10: Hezdarnhottoo $2.80-$2.50, Mawjood $8-$7.50, Sunchyme $15-$11, Junquieira $26-$19

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 2,3,4,5

Race 4: 7,9,13

Race 5: 2,6,7

Race 6: 2,4,5,7

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,2,9,12

Race 8: 1,2,3,10

Race 9: 2,14,15,16

Race 10: 10,13,16

PRICE CHECK

If the betting is any indication for race 4 at Royal Randwick, the Bjorn Baker-trained duo Point And Shoot and Puntin will dominate the race. The two sprinters have been well-backed with Point And Shoot has firmed from $2.80 to $2.60 including a bet of $2000 at $2.60. Puntin has also had his admirers firming from $6 to $3.80 with TAB taking a $2000 wager at $5 on the unbeaten sprinter.

Point And Shoot absolutely walks in 🚶‍♂️@BBakerRacingpic.twitter.com/AfC162FmVs

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 25, 2025

TRIAL POINTERS

Anarchist (race 3), a well-bred colt by Exceed And Excel from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, makes his debut in the Lonhro Plate after successive Randwick 740m barrier trial wins. Anarchist has shown natural speed to lead throughout and win both trials by comfortable margins. Drawn to suit in barrier six, he will settle on speed and take plenty of catching.

Mawjood (race 10) suffered cardiac arrhythmia when he failed at Canterbury last start but the Team Hawkes-trained sprinter has since impressed in a Rosehill barrier trial earlier this week. Mawjood raced on speed and was kept under a very tight rein as Marais was ridden out to beat him narrowly. Promising young sprinter who can bounce back in the Randwick closer.

SECTIONAL STARS

Headley Grange (race 9) is in career-best form this summer and chasing a hat-trick of wins. He was brilliant last start over the Randwick 1400m when reeled off a fast final 600m of 33.73sec including a closing 200m sectional split of a swift 11.63sec to win impressively. Joe Pride’s Headley Grange gets out to 1600m, a distance he has won over previously, and drops 6.5kg on his last start win.

Headley Grange makes it's back-to-back wins 💪@PrideRacingpic.twitter.com/yC2VRDyck6

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 25, 2025

Winston Hills (race 10) got a long way back and was last into the straight but he gathered momentum wide out and ran on strongly for fifth behind Yiska over 1200m at Randwick two weeks ago. The Matthew Smith-trained Winston Hills ran his final 600m in a fast 33.79s with a closing 200m sectional of 11.56s.

BEST BET

Hezdarnhottoo (race 10) is bursting to win a race this summer. He resumed at the Sunshine Coast in the Sunlight Consolation where he struck a Soft 6 track and a smart type in Cosmic Fire when beaten by the narrowest of margins. At Randwick last start, Hezdarnhottoo looked certain to score when he dashed clear inside the 200m only to be collared in the final few strides by Yiska. He’s third-up, stays at the Randwick 1200m, gets James McDonald and this looks his race.

VALUE BET

Chidiac (race 2) has won her only three starts in her debut preparation, scoring by comfortable margins and running fast time each race. She’s a promising mare facing her biggest test in the Highway but she has drawn perfectly in barrier two. Chidiac has been a hot favourite in each of her wins but is at double-figure odds for Randwick although, significantly, the mare has firmed from $15 to $10. She will be in this race for a long way and represents good each-way value.