Gravano
Trish Dunell
Trainer Peter Williams was the first to admit he was in two minds about whether to start progressive stayer Gravano at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Williams, who prepares the gelding with wife Dawn at their Byerley Park base, acknowledged he only made the decision to start the horse on Saturday morning after being in two minds throughout the week.
The decision proved the correct one as the Roc De Cambes gelding landed plenty of good bets when he outfinished race favourite Eleonora in the closing stages of the Australian Turf Club Trophy (1500). It was the four-year-old's fifth career victory from just 14 starts, with all his wins coming at Ellerslie.
"He wasn't running until this morning," said Williams.
"He was going to go the Nathans Memorial in two weeks however I didn't have anything suitable to run him in before then so I said to the owners if it rains I will run him otherwise he will stay in his box and we will go to the Kaimai Classic (Matamata) next week.
"When it rained and Doni (Prastiyou) became available to ride him I thought why not let him go. It was a good effort to come back to 1500 metres after 2100m at his last start, he's racing really well."
The promising stayer has Williams looking further afield now he has strengthened into his powerful frame.
"This horse has really improved," he noted.
"He won first up as a two-year-old so we put him out and then brought him up to try and get him ready for the Derby. He just wasn't strong enough so he went out for a good spell.
"He's come back in and done a good job this season.
"He will go to the Nathans next and then we'll work it out from there. I thought a race like the Hawke's Bay Cup might suit as he can carry himself now and race handy, so those type of races are now an option for him."
The Nathans Memorial (2200m) will be run at Ellerslie on 4 March, with the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup at Hastings on 15 April. – NZ Racing Desk
Williams, who prepares the gelding with wife Dawn at their Byerley Park base, acknowledged he only made the decision to start the horse on Saturday morning after being in two minds throughout the week.
The decision proved the correct one as the Roc De Cambes gelding landed plenty of good bets when he outfinished race favourite Eleonora in the closing stages of the Australian Turf Club Trophy (1500). It was the four-year-old's fifth career victory from just 14 starts, with all his wins coming at Ellerslie.
"He wasn't running until this morning," said Williams.
"He was going to go the Nathans Memorial in two weeks however I didn't have anything suitable to run him in before then so I said to the owners if it rains I will run him otherwise he will stay in his box and we will go to the Kaimai Classic (Matamata) next week.
"When it rained and Doni (Prastiyou) became available to ride him I thought why not let him go. It was a good effort to come back to 1500 metres after 2100m at his last start, he's racing really well."
The promising stayer has Williams looking further afield now he has strengthened into his powerful frame.
"This horse has really improved," he noted.
"He won first up as a two-year-old so we put him out and then brought him up to try and get him ready for the Derby. He just wasn't strong enough so he went out for a good spell.
"He's come back in and done a good job this season.
"He will go to the Nathans next and then we'll work it out from there. I thought a race like the Hawke's Bay Cup might suit as he can carry himself now and race handy, so those type of races are now an option for him."
The Nathans Memorial (2200m) will be run at Ellerslie on 4 March, with the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup at Hastings on 15 April. – NZ Racing Desk