Comin' Through hopes to emulate his half-brother to Criterion in the Rosehill Guineas
Craig Williams enjoyed a successful association with Criterion and now Melbourne’s premier jockey is eyeing a Group One win on the former star horse’s younger sibling Comin’ Through.
Williams rode Criterion six times with the highlight their win in Sydney’s richest race, the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes two years ago.
He also won the 2013 Todman Stakes on Criterion and rode him to placings in the 2015 Group One George Ryder Stakes and Group One QEII Cup in Hong Kong.
The Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through is a half-brother to Criterion, with both horses out of Mica’s Pride while Criterion is by Sebring and Comin’ Through is a son of Fastnet Rock.
Williams rides Comin’ Through in Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in which the colt will try to emulate Criterion who won the Guineas three years ago when ridden by Hugh Bowman in soft conditions.
Williams rode Comin’ Through in trackwork for the first time on Tuesday and said it was good to get an understanding of the colt he considers among the main Guineas chances.
“I was really delighted with his work,” Williams said.
“He worked with a Group One open-age performer and I was really happy with the way he responded to my riding.
“Once he pulled up, he didn’t blow and he’s ready for the ten furlongs (2000m).
“After Saturday they’ll have a couple of decisions to make on where to go. Hopefully he’s victorious and either goes on to the Derby or back to the mile of the Doncaster.”
Comin’ Through won the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington last spring, and while he is yet to win this autumn, he finished third in the Group One Randwick Guineas last start on a heavy track.
Rosehill was in the heavy range on Thursday.
“He would appreciate a firmer surface, but he will still get through the soft track as we saw last time,” Williams said.
Williams said there were similarities between Criterion and Comin’ Through.
“He’s quite similar in regards to he’s very laid back and he doesn’t really do anything unless you ask him to do it,” Williams said.
“So he’s quite similar in regards to Criterion.
“Criterion was a lot sharper than his brother is, at this stage.
“Whatever he does now is a bonus.
“In six months’ time he’s going to be a better horse and more seasoned horse. But he’s going well enough and his form is good enough to win the Rosehill Guineas on Saturday.”
