As Ellsberg and Steely continue to vie for Villiers Stakes favouritism, Ellsberg’s jockey Tim Clark has given his mount a vote of confidence.
The Festival Stakes winner is yet to triumph over the 1600 metre Villiers journey, placing at his only two attempts at the trip when third in the 2020 Spring Stakes at Newcastle and runner-up to Ayrton in the Gunsynd Classic in Brisbane.
Clark was in the saddle for the latter and based on the horse’s performance that day, he is confident Ellsberg will handle the notoriously tough Randwick mile.
“Ayrton beat him and beat him fair and square, but he had to do a fair bit of work in that race and it (Ayrton) had a soft run,” Clark said.
“He is a very highly touted horse Ayrton, and I felt Ellsberg ran it out alright.
“He will find his way up on speed and I am pretty confident the mile won’t be too much of an issue for him.”
Clark was Ellsberg’s regular rider during his three-year-old season, but Saturday will be his first time aboard the entire this campaign.
The jockey also enjoyed a successful association with former stablemate Peltzer, who has since retired to stud, partnering that horse to his three most important wins in the Stan Fox, Bondi and Eskimo Prince Stakes.
He can see parallels between the pair, who both make their own luck on-speed.
“They have similar racing patterns and they’re both pretty chilled colts and laidback,” he said.
“They have got very similar attitudes.
“It is nice to get back on him, I have obviously had a bit to do with him throughout his career.
“He won well the other day so hopefully he can go on with that sort of form in the Villiers.”
Only three horses in the past 50 years have won the Festival Stakes-Villiers Stakes double with Monton in 2011 the most recent.
Clark will be chasing his first Villiers Stakes win, while Ellsberg’s trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, who also saddle up Steely, are looking to claim the race for the first time as a partnership.
Ryan won the 2010 edition with Dances On Waves.
