Williams hopeful of Melbourne Cup start with Herbert Power winner
TEAM Williams may have secured its third 2016 Melbourne Cup entrant after Assign won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The six-year-old dominated the pace throughout with Katelyn Mallyon in the saddle and it held off the fast-finishing Big Memory and Pemberley.
Mallyon has an outside chance of becoming just the second female jockey to win a Melbourne Cup and the talented hoop was thankful to Team Williams for the winning ride.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m so lucky to have Lloyd and Nick and Team Williams supporting me,” Mallyon said.
Mallyon controlled the pace throughout the 2400m trip before quickening in the home straight. It looked as though Big Memory was going to haul in the $3 favourite at CrownBet, but Assign dug deep when challenged.
“I love riding these horses. I knew today after last start that this horse would run a strong 2400m. I didn’t want them to walk so I took it (the pace) up,” Mallyon said.
“He was strong, barely blowing a candle out now. He certainly dug in from the half-mile, he was never going to get beaten, he did enough.”
The win was Lloyd Williams’s fifth Herbert Power Stakes victory and Assign will be looking to join stablemates Almandin and Bondi Beach in the Cup, but its chances will depend on the penalty allotted by chief handicapper Greg Carpenter.
Co-owner Nick Williams believes it might not get enough weight to head directly into the Melbourne Cup on November 1, but alternative plans have been made.
“I think he won with plenty in hand,” Williams said. “I’d say we’ll probably head towards the Bendigo Cup, he looks ideally suited to me.
“He’s a tough horse, he could easily back up (into the Melbourne Cup). He might not go to Bendigo, depends on what Greg does with the penalty.”
Williams would love to see Mallyon ride in the Melbourne Cup and believes her tactical mindset holds her in good stead.
“It was a fantastic ride. She’s won of the few local jockeys that understands pace and rides these internationals as a consequence. She have this horse a super ride,” Williams said.
Assign is now into $51 with Sportsbet for the 2016 Melbourne Cup with current favourite Hartnell holding steady at $5.
2015 Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance was good in finishing fourth under the big weight of 60kg and all looks positive moving forward.