Grant and Alana Williams will begin the defence of their trainer’s premiership with a large team engaged at Pinjarra on Saturday including a three-pronged assault in the meeting’s main feature, but it’s last-start winner Terratif that they’ve declared the stable’s best, reflecting confidence in the five-year-old mare.
Terratif made a winning return at Bunbury two weeks ago, producing a powerful finish under hands-and-heels riding from William Pike, settling last and storming home to outpoint Snow God by half a length to win first up with a touch of style.
Terratif, dynamite when first-up, faces 10 rivals at Pinjarra this weekend as she looks to make it two wins in a row in the Wittens Irrigation & Design Handicap (1200m), drawn in barrier one for Pike, she holds $2.35 TABtouch favouritism.
With conditions expected to suit, Grant Williams believes that racing on a rain affected track will play into Terratif’s strengths.
“She’s probably my best for tomorrow (Saturday),” Williams said on Tabradio.
“The wet track is not going to bother her; she had the same sort of conditions at Bunbury.
“She has been known to go really good first up in the past and not run good second up, but I think that’s been on harder tracks.
“Now that she has the conditions to suit, I think you will see her put a few together.”
Williams believes Sisu Warrior holds sway over stable mates Sensessional and Lord Gannicus in the $100,000 Jockey Celebration Day Stakes (1400m).
Sisu Warrior won first up at Pinjarra and then placed seventh at Bunbury when he wasn’t afforded the best of luck making a run from the back of the field.
“I thought his first two runs have been very good and he suits Clint (Johnston-Porter),” Williams said.
“He’s starting to get a bit of a handful to work which is always a good sign because when he’s a bit of a unit he’s normally in good form.
“I think he’s probably the one out of the race, just the way he’s going and, on that trajectory to get another win.”
Sensessional resumes on Saturday after one trial, having shown promise last campaign with placings in the Bunbury Cup and Ascot Mile.
“Ideally we would have gone into another trial and 1400m,” Williams said.
“We were behind a little bit but I’m looking forward to getting him back to the races.
“He’ll run a good race, whether it’s enough first up, 1400m, one trial, hopefully we have that right, but there’s a small question mark about that.”
Lord Gannicus was impressive leading all the way to win last start over 1600m and Williams thinks if he can replicate that run, he’ll be in the mix again.
“Hopefully he can spring the lids and give them something to chase,” Williams said.
“If he takes control of the jockey, it’s normally a good sign.
“Hopefully he takes control of Chloe (Azzopardi) and then they have to run him down.”
Although Williams gives the slight edge to Sisu Warrior, Sensessional holds down $3.60 favouritism.
In what shapes as an open race Vast Art is next at $4.40, Lord Gannicus is $4.80 and Sisu Warrior $5.50.
Meanwhile Williams says Petrouchka might need the run when resuming in the MCA Polytrack Handicap (1600m).
Julio Santarelli