Awkward scheduling in Sydney and Melbourne seems certain to force trainer Danny Williams to run potential autumn prospect Deceiver at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
“Given the programming in Sydney and Melbourne there’s not much on for him after this week,” Williams said.
“I’m mindful of him bouncing back from a trip to Melbourne but it’s three to four weeks before the next suitable race for him.”
While the race calendar is out of slightly kilter with Williams’ plans for Deceiver, the timing of Saturday’s race comes with a silver lining.
The Goulburn trainer’s decision to accept with the Newmarket Handicap and Doncaster Mile entry for the Australia Day meeting will come with the bonus of having Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Bowman returns from suspension as he sets his sights on another Sydney jockeys’ premiership, giving Williams a chance to repay a favour to the leading jockey.
“Last year Hugh came up to Caloundra and did a bit of work with (fitness man) Ron Johnson,” Williams said.
“While he was there he rode a bit of work for me when I had my team there for the winter and I promised him a ride.”
In his most recent outing, Deceiver delivered on every bit of the promise he showed in a hat-trick of wins this time last year when he posted impressive closing figures in a Flemington win over 1200m.
“I probably took the horse two runs too far last year but with the autumn coming you always hope to progress as far as you can with a young horse,” Williams said.
Deceiver is entered for two Warwick Farm races but Williams said his preference was to give the four-year-old another run over 1200m.
“Looking at the noms I’ll probably keep him at 1200 (metres) even though he is looking for 1400 (metres) to a mile,” he said.
“I’m mindful that I don’t want to get too far ahead with him in his campaign at this stage.”
