Improved Williamsburg to target The Five Diamonds and The Big Dance
The decision to geld Williamsburg has produced an immediate result with the dual Group 1 placegetter breaking a 22-month drought from the winner’s stall to post a decisive victory at Rosehill.
The five-year-old hadn’t got his head in front since taking out the Dulcify Quality (1600m) in October 2022, although he had run some bold races, finishing third in the 2023 Rosehill Guineas and placing in that year’s Frank Packer Plate and Shannon Stakes.
Being a son of super sire Snitzel out of Group 1 winner Fenway, Williamsburg boasted a stallion’s pedigree but after his Lord Mayors Cup placing behind Eliyass in June, co-trainer Gerald Ryan felt he wasn’t giving racing his all.
“That was the first time I reckon the horse didn’t put in, that day when he ran third in the Lord Mayors’ Cup,” Ryan said.
“He ran up to win that race and that French horse, who looked sensational, beat him.
“His owners have persevered with him and they made a big call to geld him – he’s got good Group form and he is a very well bred horse.”
Williamsburg was cut three days after the Lord Mayors Cup run and while Ryan hadn’t seen much change in the horse’s demeanour around the stable, he had noticed his work had been sharper.
That was reflected in Saturday’s NSW Jockeys Association Reunion Handicap (1500m) when Tyler Schiller let Williamsburg ($7.50) take up an uncustomary leadership role.
The five-year-old offered a good kick in the straight to hold on and score by three-quarters of a length over Estadio Mestalla ($4.80) with Testator Silens ($3.60 fav) another half-head away third.
“Tyler has only had a few rides on him and he’s gone really well for him each time. He was rapt in his trial the other day,” Ryan said.
“We might have found another string to his bow.”
Ryan said Williamsburg was likely to head to the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury on August 22 with connections keeping an open mind beyond that race.
“He’s a Five Diamonds horse, he could get into a Big Dance,” Ryan said.
“He’s run well in an Epsom before when he wasn’t in real good form….there are plenty of races for him.”
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