Sargent banks on Williams being Perfect fit

Craig Williams is making a special trip to Sydney to partner Group winner Perfect Thought.

Jockey CRAIG WILLIAM.
Jockey CRAIG WILLIAM. Picture: Steve Hart

Top Victorian jockey Craig Williams will make a rare off-season appearance at Randwick after answering a call from John Sargent  to test the Magic Millions Cup credentials of Perfect Thought  

Williams was aboard for the four-year-old's most significant win in the 2022 Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington and Sargent was keen to get his feedback before locking in any plans. 

"I just phoned (Williams) the other day and asked if he would come up for Perfect Thought and he said he had a quiet Saturday, so it was a good chance to come up and ride him again," Sargent said. 

"He knows how good Perfect Thought is and will give us a good guide on him." 

A son of outstanding stallion So You Think, Perfect Thought has shown glimpses of above-average talent. 

As well as winning last year's Group 3 Melbourne Cup week feature, he was runner-up to Kovalica in the Queensland Guineas, that horse subsequently taking out the Queensland Derby and finishing an unlucky second in the Epsom Handicap. 

Sargent likewise had lofty ambitions for Perfect Thought, but the entire's spring campaign was cut short after just two runs. 

"He won that race (Carbine Club Stakes) and when he was second in the Queensland Guineas in the winter, I thought he would go right on with it," Sargent said. 

"Then he got crook last time in and we had to stop, but he looks to have come back the horse we thought we had, in his trial and first-up run. 

"Hopefully, he can show he is up to the best now." 

Perfect Thought is not a noted fresh horse, so Sargent was more than satisfied with his return in the Razor Sharp Stakes (1200m) where he finished two lengths from winner Recommendation 

He has a much better second-up record, including his Guineas placing, but will have to overcome barrier 12 in Saturday's Schweppes Handicap (1400m). 

Williams has picked up seven other rides at Randwick, including Perfect Thought's stablemate Ningaloo Star  in the Midway Handicap (1200m) and Godolphin two-year-old Pisces, who heads to town after scoring a narrow win on debut at Kembla Grange. 


Racing and Sports



Randwick

Saturday, 23rd December 2023

8
16:40
(local)

SCHWEPPES HANDICAP

Age: 3yo and up WT: 52.0kg Type: BM100
AUD $160,000
1400m TURF SOFT
8
16:40
(local)
AUD $160,000
1400m SOFT

SCHWEPPES HANDICAP

Age: 3yo and up WT: 52.0kg Type: BM100
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 4. WAIHAHA FALLS (NZ) 6yo G
SACRED FALLS (NZ) - THINK MINK (NZ)
TOMMY BERRY
JOHN O'SHEA
$7
56.5kg
M J Chittick, G J Chittick & G Lowry
2nd 8. OUR REDENTE (AUS) 5yo G
REDENTE (AUS) - BARBARETTA (AUS)
BROCK RYAN
JEROME HUNTER
$5.5
54kg
G A Gathercole
3rd 2. SINAWANN (IRE) 6yo G
KINGMAN (GB) - SIMAWA (IRE)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
JOSEPH PRIDE
$6.5
58.5kg
Glentree Racing (Mgr: B Wilson), R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: R Legh), Gurners Bloodstock Co (Mgr: M Ramsden), B & C Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: B Dorman), P Jens, C Hosie, R Clements, G Delany, J Wilson, Ms S Freeman-Matthews, C Matthews, R McClure, N Wilson, P Barnett & P McClure
4th 12. BATTLETON (AUS) 5yo G
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - DULVERTON (AUS)
JAY FORD
BJORN BAKER
$6
52kg

Sales Information

5th 5. ART CADEAU (AUS) 7yo G
ARTIE SCHILLER (USA) - JEWELLED GATE (AUS)
TOM SHERRY
TERRY ROBINSON
$17
55kg
6th 9. PERFECT THOUGHT (AUS) 4yo H
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - PERFECTLY SAFE (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
J G SARGENT
$7
53.5kg

Sales Information

7th 1. FROSTY ROCKS (AUS) 7yo G
YOUR SONG (AUS) - VIRTUAL VELOCITY (AUS)
JETT STANLEY
BJORN BAKER
$21
58kg

Sales Information

8th 3. LORD ARDMORE (NZ) 6yo G
RELIABLE MAN (GB) - MISS OUTSHINE (NZ)
TIM CLARK
CHRIS WALLER
$26
57kg

Sales Information

9th 10. CAVALIER CHARLES (AUS) 7yo G
DENMAN (AUS) - OFFER IT UP (AUS)
DYLAN GIBBONS
MATTHEW DALE
$4.5
53kg
10th 6. CONSCRIPT (AUS) 6yo G
TIME FOR WAR (AUS) - CARMELITA MO (AUS)
REECE JONES
G RYAN & S ALEXIOU
$17
54.5kg