Goulburn trainer Danny Williams is taking two horses to Rosehill this weekend on a quick three-day back up, but he sees no reason why they both can’t acquit themselves well.
Rent A Rock was a handy winner over 1600m on his home surface on Wednesday and Williams will step him up to 2000m for the Country Classic.
The Fiorente gelding had been runner-up in two Highway Handicaps prior to the Goulburn victory and gets his chance after drawing well in gate two for Sam Clipperton.
“The quick back up shouldn’t pose a problem,” Williams said.
“The beauty about racing here at Goulburn on our home track is that we’re only 100 metres from walking into the tie-ups, and then they’re straight back into their boxes and we put them into a chilled spa after the race.
“They’ve eaten right up this morning (Thursday) and are bright as a button so I see no reason not to run them on Saturday given what I see today.”
Williams is also backing up Refire in the Highway Handicap after the Epaulette gelding finished a close-up fifth, also at Goulburn on Wednesday.
The five-year-old has had three runs this time in without much luck and Williams believes the extra 300m will suit him.
“His first up run was a bottler,” Williams said.
“Blaike (McDougall) got off him and said he just got caught behind the wrong horse and perhaps we should’ve run in the first three.
“Stepping up in trip will certainly suit him and I think he’s very good odds and (has) a very good weight. I expect to see him run a bold race.”
After losing his promising galloper Hot ‘n’ Hazy in a horrific race fall earlier this year, Williams is grateful for the support James Harron Bloodstock has shown him by buying a colt at the recent Inglis sale.
Harron paid $85,000 for the son of Nicconi, and Williams has been impressed with the development of the now two-year-old.
“I wasn’t totally convinced as James was immediately,” Williams said.
“But he’s really grown on me and is a really nice horse.
“He’s worked a couple of pieces of pace work and we’re very impressed with what we see.
“He’s a very well co-ordinated and balanced colt.”
