Melbourne Cup winning jockey Craig Williams had no hesitation in making the trip to Perth to ride three year old Dubious in the 2019 Group 1 $1m Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Craig Williams above, will ride Dubious in the 2019 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Steve Hart.
Williams has been reluctant of late to travel interstate as he has been concentrating on winning another Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership after claiming is eighth title last season.
Williams will ride the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Dubious in the weight for age feature sprint of the 2019 Ascot Racing Carnival and the three year old is rated a $14 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au.
“If the right horse comes around, they’re still Group One races worth $1 million so it’s definitely worth us making the trip over there,” Williams said.
Williams will be having his first ride on Dubious but said that he has seen the Not A Single Doubt colt in action plenty of times.
“I’ve worked with Dubious before on the track and been his opposition multiple times,” Williams said.
“The stable always say how straightforward and professional he is.
“The barrier (5) looks good and he hasn’t had a long spring that some others may have had.
“He fits the criteria well and I think he’s drawn nicely to get every opportunity.”
Dubious is the winner of three of his thirteen race starts with his best victory coming at the end of his two year old season in the Group 2 $200,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
The colt was also tested at weight for age during his Brisbane campaign and ran a creditable fifth in the Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.
The Maher and Eustace training team have given Dubious three Spring Carnival runs with his best effort being runner up to Dalasan second up in the Group 2 $200,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 14.
Dubious has had one more run before heading to Perth for a sixth in the Group 3 $500,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 16.
The James Cummings trained Trekking heads the market order for the Winterbottom Stakes at $2.45 at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Flirtini at $8 and Vital Silver at $8.50.
Betting for the 2019 Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.45 Trekking, $8 Flirtini, $8.50 Vital Silver, $9 Stageman, $14 Valour Road, Dubious, $16 Viridine, $17 Hey Doc, $19 Endless Drama, $21 Home Of The Brave, $26 Misty Metal, Rock Magic, $61 Spirit Of Valor, Malaguerra, $126 Durendal.
