Fresh from ending a 22-month drought from the winner’s list, Williamsburg will attempt to keep his momentum rolling in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury.
The five-year-old scored his first victory since the 2022 Dulcify Quality when he led throughout over 1500m at Rosehill earlier this month and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou says the gelding has continued to thrive since.
“He has trained on really well,” Alexiou said.
“I know he’s not a horse that wins out of turn, it has taken him a while to get that win next to his name again.
“But he’s done nothing in the meantime that suggests he can’t go there and win again.
“It looks a nice race for him, he is well weighted and he’s got a nice draw. He gets a lot of favours, so it would be nice to see him run well again.”
Tyler Schiller sticks with Williamsburg in Thursday’s $200,000 showpiece for which he is a $3.60 favourite.
The race also features the return of 2023 ATC Australia Oaks winner Pennyweka, who will be having her first start for Ciaron Maher.
The mare has been off the scene since disappointing in two New Zealand outings last spring and generally takes a run or two to come to hand.
If Williamsburg races up to his price in the Rowley Mile (1600m), Alexiou says the next stop will be the Group 2 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on September 20.
“It’s a Big Dance qualifier so that looks like a nice stepping-stone for him,” Alexiou said.
“But where he goes after that will be decided depending on how he runs at Hawkesbury and in the Cameron.”
Alexiou also confirmed that Missile Stakes runner-up Arctic Glamour would have her next start in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 7.