Top jockey Craig Williams is adamant Whateverwhenever should be tried in better company after the Queensland mare defeated Group One winner King’s Rose at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Liam Birchley-trained mare finished strongly from midfield to upset favourite King’s Rose ($2.15) in the Group Three Moonga Stakes (1400m), raising the prospect of the five-year-old being given her chance in the Group One Myer Classic (1600m).
Whateverwhenever winning the Sportingbet Moonga Stakes at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
The victory convinced Williams Whateverwhenever ($17) could be competitive if Birchley decided to chase better races.
“I was really happy with her today. They’ve got a lot of options with a mare going the way she is,” Williams said.
Whateverwhenever is one of two horses Brisbane-based Birchley has in Melbourne but the trainer stayed home on Saturday to oversee his Queensland team.
Foreman Brad Berwick said Birchley might have to “raise the bar” for the mare’s next start but thought the Myer Classic might still be aiming high.
“But if it happened to rain during the Flemington carnival she could be competitive in anything because she’s a good wet tracker, so Liam might head that way,” he said.
King’s Rose, who made a run around her rivals from back in the field, finished a neck behind the winner with leader McClintock ($15) holding on to finish three-quarters of a length away third.
King’s Rose will have her next start in the Myer Classic in two weeks.
