Trainer Matthew Williams does not want to upset the hand that feeds him.
When Jamie Kah elected to ride the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr -trained Annavisto in the Group 3 Tony Bourke Memorial (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday, Williams was not about to argue.
Williams saddles Wrote To Arataki, a horse Kah has ridden to success at her past two starts at Flemington and Sandown, in Saturday’s race with Dean Yendall back aboard.
Kah won last year’s Group 3 race on Annavisto and was aboard when the mare trialled at Cranbourne on February 6.
“Mick has probably got a bit more to offer Jamie than I have,” Williams said.
“We’ve got 28 in work down here for Mick and there’s a few more they want to send, so I don’t want to upset the boss by pulling rank.
“You don’t upset the hand that feeds you.”
Prior to Wrote To Arataki’s last two victories, Yendall was aboard in placings at The Valley and Sandown.
On both occasions, from wide draws, instructions were to ride quietly and finish off, whereas when Kah took over she elected to roll forward and control the race.
“Dean was probably a bit frustrated because in the first two starts we drew wide and opted to go back and Jamie got on when we rolled forward,” Williams said.
“And that’s Dean’s style. He hates being negative, so he’ll give her every chance, I’m sure.
“Even though we’ve drawn a bit wide again, I think being outside Annavisto, it gives Dean the chance to sit outside if it’s running along or press on to the front.”
Williams said two weeks from Wrote To Arataki’s Sandown victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) was ideal.
“Jamie thought she was a little bit fresh at Sandown in the run, so with the fortnight, rather than the month in-between, we’re hoping she switches off a little better which will give her a little more at the end of the race,” Williams said.
“She’s very fit. I thought there possibly wasn’t a lot of improvement to come off the back of Sandown and I couldn’t be any happier with her at home since.”
