Saint Minerva and Soiled start off winning day for Williams
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Saint Minerva crosses the finish post six lengths in front
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Top Victorian jockey Craig Williams got his day off in Queensland to the best possible start when he booted home the Alan Bailey-trained Saint Minerva in the Group 3 The Prop House Grand Prix Stakes 2200m.
The bottom weight Saint Minerva (F3 Galileo IRE-Amicable) won in a commanding fashion streaking home first by six lengths at Eagle Farm on Saturday, May 30.
After winning her maiden at Doomben in late April during her second campaign, Saint Minerva has gone from strength to strength, hence her $2.60 race favourite status heading into the race.
From seven starts the filly has three wins and two thirds to her name and she proved the slow track over 2200m was no challenge for her with the big margin win.
Markus Maximus (Luke Nolen) placed second a short head in front of The Grogouch (Jason Taylor).
Williams then made it one better by following it up with a win in the next race.
Once he manoeuvred Soiled to the lead from the outside barrier in the Listed Sir Edward Williams Handicap 1500m, he stuck there and gave no option of anyone catching him in the straight.
Soiled (G6 Sandpit BRZ-Subtle Miss) won a length and a half in front of the race favourite Obvious Choice (Dale Spriggs).
Lucky Luna (Scott Seamer) followed in third by a short head.
Soiled has had an honest career but the Black Type continued to elude the gelding until the latest win.
The trainer for Patinack Farm Racing, Jason Coyle, described the barrier 19 jump as not an advantage but it worked out for the team thanks to Williams’ ride. “He rode her a treat,” said Coyle.
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Two from two for Craig WIlliams aboard Soiled, but the best was yet to come (Noel Pascoe photos)
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“We just had to work across, sit outside the leaders and kick at the turn.”
Through his research of the horse and sticking to the plan, Williams secured the win for connections.
“When I spoke to Jason Coyle and Nathan Tinkler they said it might be beneficial to just let the horse find its feet,” said Williams.
“Peter Robl (the horse’s regular jockey) said his advice about the horse where’s it’s been successful is just don’t dig him from the gates. Just take your time, be patient.
“We got outside the leader, took a bit of a sit and they wanted to sprint a fair way out so I just wanted to keep him a little bit longer.
“Full credit’s got to go to him. Soiled did a great job. He dug deep for me.”
Williams made it a bookend race-to-race doubles by also securing the last two races of the day.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 1
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