Sandown is not a venue that regularly has the Group racing spotlight shining on it, but Craig Williams wouldn’t mind seeing more of it after dominating Saturday’s Carlyon Stakes card.
Melbourne’s premier jockey owned the meeting that was transferred from the under-construction Moonee Valley with four wins, including the day’s Group 3 feature aboard Cavalry Girl for trainer Tom Dabernig.
Williams has enjoyed many wins at Sandown, including a Group 1 Underwood Stakes aboard Zaaki, but doesn’t get the chance to ride in feature races there these days and was thrilled to celebrate the return with a good day.
“We’ve been lucky that Sandown can take the weight (of transferred meetings) and it’s great to see plenty of people here and have a good day,” Williams said.
Williams completed a winning hat-trick aboard Cavalry Girl, having won the previous race aboard Final Moment for Clayton Douglas after a win on the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Buggsy.
His first win for the day came aboard the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Nearco Frod, who made it four wins on end in the 2400m event.
The 1000m Carlyon Stakes saw Williams reunite with Cavalry Girl after Todd Pannell had and Linda Meech partnered her to runaway wins at her previous two starts.
The four-year-old daughter of Bivouac had to do it differently on Saturday, held up behind Beast Mode until inside the final 200m before accelerating impressively through a tight gap alongside the inside fence.
The $2.30 favourite scored by half-a-length from Bazaball Rewarded ($10) with Losesomewinmore ($7.50) one length back third.
Williams said being able to overcome that difficulty was an example of how far Cavalry Girl has come this preparation and endorsed her as a chance in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) back at Sandown on September 5.
“She’s ticked another box coming here and being successful at Sandown, which may give Tom a good option in two weeks,” Williams said.
“She would definitely be putting her hand up very high in a Moir this year.”
Cavalry Girl jumped to the $4.50 second line in Moir Stakes betting after Saturday’s win, behind only speedy filly Natural Fling ($3.50).
