Prominent owner Lloyd Williams’ affinity with the Bendigo track continued on Saturday when imported galloper Observational scored a last-gasp win in the Yalumba Golden Mile.
The Bendigo racetrack has been known as the nursery of champions over the decades and Williams has been taking his horses there for the best part of 50 years.
While Williams doesn’t head to the track these days, son Nick was present to see the UK import defy the pattern of the day in coming from last just before the turn to score in a photo.
Ridden by Anthony Darmanin, Observational ($20) scored a short-half-head victory over Evangelist ($11) with Dylanson, the $5 favourite, a short-neck away third.
“We’re always happy to support Bendigo,” Williams said.
“It’s a wonderful track, one of the best in Australia.
“This horse was having his first start in Australia and he’s done it the hard way.
“It was quite an impressive win and a fantastic cold ride by Anthony Darmanin.”
Observational was prepared by Roger Charlton in the UK, where he was successful at Goodwood over 2200m from his five starts before being sold.
Williams said the son of Galileo was likely to have a break before being prepared for a spring campaign.
The win for Darmanin was reward for his hard work at Williams’ training complex at Mt Macedon, where he’s one of the main trackwork riders.
Darmanin has been riding work for Williams for five-and-a-half years, describing it as “the best job I’ve ever had”.
He mixes riding work for Williams and race riding in Tasmania, where he’s one of the leading jockeys.
Darmanin has a high opinion of Observational.
“I ride this horse every day and I’ve been really confident about this horse from day one,” he said.
“We weren’t going to change the plan of switching him off and let him hit the line despite the leaders winning earlier in the day.
“He’s got such a heap of ability and he really motored from the 100 metre mark.”
