Point Nepean a ‘proper stayer’ says Williams
After a dominant last-start Benchmark 84 win at Bendigo, Point Nepean will be looking to win a second Australian start when he lines up at Caulfield on Saturday in the Jack Elliot Handicap (2400m).
The four-year-old son of Camelot was ultra-impressive in his third Australian start when leading all of the way at Bendigo, recording a five-length victory in the 2400m staying contest on April 2.
Dominant staying performance 👊🏻
Point Nepean takes out R1 at Bendigo for Robert Hickmott.@_BendigoJC @NCW717 pic.twitter.com/sHmiWmrZOe
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 2, 2022
Post-race, co-owner Nick Williams said that he showed at the races what he had been showing at home and what he had done for Joseph O’Brien in Ireland, so he is confident that the entire can continue through the grades and measure up in some major staying races.
“He’s still very immature, but he’s gonna be the real deal this horse,” Williams said on Racing.com.
“He’s a proper stayer. He’s still growing into his frame; he’s got as much improvement left in him as any horse we own.
“I think one day he’ll be a Cups horse this bloke.”
Such is the hype for the Robert Hickmott-trained stayer, online bookmakers have opened him up as a $2.60 favourite for Saturday’s assignment, while he is an $81 chance to give Nick and Lloyd Williams an eighth Melbourne Cup (3200m) in 2022.
“He’s one that we own and is really on the up, so it gives us some excitement going forward,” Williams added.
Point Nepean will once again be ridden by Alana Kelly from the inside alley, so he is likely to go forward and lead the field of 11 – with four of his rivals attempting to turn the tables from last start.