Williams scores half the card
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Ortensia races for home for another Queensland win
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Riding half the card on a Super Saturday is no mean feat but that’s what jockey Craig Williams achieved at Eagle Farm on Saturday, May 30.
While he missed out on the Group 1 Conrad Treasury Queensland Oaks, Williams still picked up four Black Type races. He won the first two races and then followed it up by clinching the last two.
The first two wins were aboard Saint Minerva in the Group 3 Prop House Grand Prix Stakes and Soiled in the Listed Myer Sir Edward Williams Handicap.
In race seven the Group 2 TCL Electronics QTC Cup Handicap 1300m, Ortensia followed up her win in the Glenlogan Stakes with a victory that scored the filly entry in the Stradbroke Handicap.
No horse has even backed up from the QTC Cup to win the Stradbroke the following week and trainer Tony Noonan is pleased to face the challenge.
“Relieved is the best way to explain it,” he said.
“I was terribly worried about the conditions of the track because she just doesn’t ping. She grinds and she does her best and she just doesn’t ping like she does on a good track.
“I think she’s better off chasing but we decided to ride her closer with the track being like it was and she stuck her head out at the right time.”
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Chinchilla Rose battles on to claim the last race for Steele Ryan
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Noonan isn’t concerned about backing the filly up a week later.
“I’m not so much worried about that because I haven’t been hard on her,” he said.
“If anything she needed this or a very hard hit out.
“I’m not worried about it. I’m glad to have the problem.”
Ortensia (F3 Testa Rossa-Aerate’s Pick) was challenged a couple of time in the straight but the $2.10 race favourite held on to win a short head in front of Maxisun (Bobby El-Issa).
Mr Baritone (Damien Oliver) placed third by a long head.
Williams was pleased with the filly’s run.
“She got through it really good,” he said.
“She had a good turn of foot.”
The filly who has never been out of the prizemoney proved she could handle the soft going after she placed second in the Listed James Carr Stakes at Randwick in April, but Williams believes she’s better on a dry track.
“I worked her during the week and she was brilliant, nearly awesome,” he said.
“I found that she’s such a better horse on top of the ground anyway and you’re going to see that coming up.
“She just loves to chase.”
Williams picked up his fourth and final win the Group 3 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes 1400m.
Deagon trainer Steele Ryan scored a win in the last race the week prior at Doomben and he repeated it at Eagle Farm.
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Craig Williams rode half the card at Eagle Farm (Noel Pascoe photos)
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This time it was with Chinchilla Rose.
“We’re going alright,” said Ryan. “We’ve got a good team of horses and a good team of staff there at the moment.”
Chinchilla Rose (M4 Lion Hunter-Chiara) had a slow jump from barrier eight but came from back in the field and got through the going to edge out Bird of Fire (Nash Rawiller) by a neck.
Jacqueline Rogue (Michael Rodd) was the third placegetter by a length and a quarter.
Ryan was amazed by what Williams had achieved. “What a great rider,” he exclaimed.
Williams had confidence in Chinchilla Rose heading into the race and was delighted to get the ride.
“She won the BTC Sprint last year and she’s come back to mares,” he said.
“I was really happy with her last run at Doomben. She got the score on the board.
“When I spoke to Steele Ryan he said she’s really trained on well and I said well look I love horses that fire up.
“You saw her today with that big weight to come back in the field, she really did motor and she wanted to win today.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 2
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