Craig Williams made his visit to Mornington on Saturday worthwhile by guiding Valac to his second stakes victory in the $140,000 Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m).
Williams had four rides at Mornington but the first three of his engagements were scratched, leaving him with just Valac in the feature event of the day.
Valac raced up on the pace, settling a slow tempo through the first half of the race before Douglas Macarthur ($3.40 favourite) took over pacemaking duties with 1200 metres remaining.
Douglas Macarthur surrendered the lead before the home turn and Valac skipped clear on the home turn as runner-up Exemplar ($9) was denied clear running at a vital stage.
Exemplar closed strongly to close the gap to a half-length at the finish with Creedence ($9) a further 2.75 lengths away in third. Big Blue ($21) finished fourth while March’s Mornington Cup winner Self Sense ($19) never threatened, 6.2 lengths behind Valac in fifth.
“He is now racing in the best form that he’s ever been in,” said Bruno Rouge-Serret, representing the winning Lindsay Park Racing stable.
“His form has been good and he’s a good clean winded horse.
“Craig (Williams) was told to be positive today and he controlled the race, apart from the 600-metre period where the horse of Lloyd’s (Douglas Macathur) whipped around him. But not too long afterwards that horse was struggling.
“It was a nice ride by Craig (Williams) and on that performance he can keep going forward and pick up a nice race during the spring.”
Rouge-Serret suggested the $400,000 G2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 12 and $400,000 G3 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 30 could be next on Valac’s agenda.
“There’s some nice races around that will really suit him over 2400 to 2500 metres.”
Valac is the half-brother of this month’s G1 Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song who has registered all eight of his victories in Australia with his other success at stakes level coming in the G3 Queen’s Cup (2500m) at Morphettville in May.
Article via thoroughbrednews.com.au