Champion jockey Craig Williams has committed to a trip to Perth for Damien Oliver’s final meeting.
Williams has picked up the ride aboard Super Smink in the Damien Oliver-Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 16.
The race is expected to be Oliver’s final ride before the curtain comes down on his glittering career.
“I’m going over to ride at Damien Oliver’s last meeting, and I’ve got a ride in his last race,” Williams said.
“It will be great to be competing with him on his last day. We’ve competed against each other for so many years and to be riding against him in his last race ride, it will be fantastic.”
Williams picked up the ride on Super Smink during the week after the filly finished third in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) last Saturday.
“She got beaten by two boys last time, but she looks a good ride,” Williams said.
Before Williams heads to Perth, he is looking to ride Foxy Cleopatra in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
However, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained mare may be Sydney bound for the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Young said that race was the stable’s preferred option, however Foxy Cleopatra was borderline of making the field and the Ballarat Cup was a nice back-up option.
Foxy Cleopatra has had two runs back following a tendon injury suffered in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington last year.
She resumed with a first-up second at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival before running second in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) last week.
“I was so proud of her performance last start after she had such a long lay-off,” Williams said.
“The track was affected, and they went at a really strong gallop.
“She was under pressure on the tighter track, and she was under full pressure before turning and she was still really solid to the line.
“She gave me the feel of a high-quality mare.
“I chased up to see if I could ride her wherever she runs next time.
“They’ve got a couple of options where they might go, but she gave me the feel that whatever she does now she’s going to have good autumn, for sure.”
