Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams admits he has been caught out by the depth of opposition against Turnitaround at Caulfield.
Turnitaround lines up in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) on Saturday as a $16 chance in early betting.
“We’ve had the race in the back of our minds for a while,” Williams said.
“We thought it might not have been quite as strong being restricted to four-year-olds and VOBIS Gold only, but its turned out not being a bad little race.
“When you put on the prize money the horses will come out.”
Turnitaround is pitted against Kilmore Cup winner Self Sense which is the $5 favourite.
Returning at Caulfield a fortnight ago, Turnitaround finished 13th over 1400m, but Williams said the run was better than it looked.
His previous effort was a good second to Chairman’s Handicap runner-up Sir John Hawkwood over 2000m at Flemington in February.
“He wasn’t knocked around in his run at Caulfield,” Williams said.
“He didn’t have a lot of room in the straight and went to the line without being punished.”
Following Saturday’s race Williams will keep an eye on the weather in the lead-up to the Warrnambool carnival early next month.
