Williams picks up Australian Guineas ride on Minnesinger

Big race jockey Craig Williams has picked the ride on Minnesinger in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Minnesinger, royal blue on the fence, and Alpine Eagle, brown and yellow, fight out the finish in the Autumn Classic at Caulfield. Photo by  Sarah Ebbett.

Minnesinger, royal blue on the fence, and Alpine Eagle, brown and yellow, fight out the finish in the Autumn Classic at Caulfield. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Williams was booked to ride top Australian Guineas chance Disposition but the Wez Hunter trained three year old was ruled out from taking his place in the field this weekend after injuring himself at early morning track work this morning.

Hunter has ruled out any long term injuries after the former Western Australian trained gelding slipped over and took some skin off his near hind leg but said he would be right to head to Sydney later on in the Autumn.

Minnesinger, one of the Goldolphin team that is trained by Lee and Anthony Freedman, put himself into contention for the Australian Guineas with an eye catching second to Guineas rival Alpine Eagle in the Group 2 $200,000 Race-Tech Australia Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

While Williams was very upbeat about the chances of Disposition in the Australian Guineas and disappointed that he was unable to make the field, he is pleased to have picked up the ride on Minnesinger.

“We were excited to have Disposition going into this week’s Guineas and unfortunately he had a mishap so it was really disappointing,” Williams told AAP.

“Fortunately enough for me, I’ve been able to pick up a really nice horse for Lee and Anthony Freedman and most importantly the horse has drawn a great barrier.”

Minnesinger’s pattern of racing is to settle in the second half of the field and Williams is certain to give the Lonhro colt a cosy run from barrier three in the sixteen horse field.

Autumn Classic winner Alpine Eagle and Minnesinger with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle raced beside each other back in the field last week and the pair finished together on the line with only a head between.

“Alpine Eagle only just beat him so he (Minnesinger) is going to be very competitive in this Australian Guineas,” Williams said.

Williams will take over from Dunn who has taken the ride on the Tasmanian trained Admiral who showed his winning form beating high class galloper The Cleaner in the Listed $100,000 George Adams Plate (1600m) at Launceston on February 25.

Minnesinger has had a quick rise through the ranks and after winning his maiden over 1462m at Kilmore on January 4 went on to win over 1600m in a BenchMark 64 at Sandown on February 4 before stepping up to Saturday class in the Autumn Classic.

In early betting for the Australian Guineas Minnesinger has come in for some support and has firmed slightly from $16 to $14 since the final field was released on Wednesday morning.

The Chris Waller trained Kermadec heads the market order with Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.60 ahead of last Saturday’s Autumn Classic winner Alpine Eagle at $7 and Gai Waterhouse’s Wandjina at $8.50.

Petrology at $10 and Stratum Star at $11 are also well in contention as is Western Australian three year old Rommel at $12.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.