3 minute read
Just five days after winning the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, star jockey Craig Williams was at it again when taking out Sunday's Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup.
Successful in notching up his second Gold Cup, Williams was at his supreme best aboard the Lee Freedman trained Mr Clint.
Although disappointing in the lead up, Freedman always remained confident and Mr Clint took full advantage of Williams' more aggressive approach.
A noted backmarker, Williams found a spot midfield before pressing forward from the 1000m, gradually making his way towards the lead and found himself eye-balling I'm Incredible on straightening.
Taking over inside the 500m, Mr Clint hit the front a long way from home, however it proved a masterstroke as Williams established a big enough break, holding on to score by three-quarters of a length.
Both Gold Strike and Countofmontecristo found the line well late, but were no match for the five-year-old.
Mr Clint won his first Group 1 back in May 2018 when winning the Singapore Guineas [1600m].
Surprisingly Sunday's success was his victory since that race, having placed in four of his subsequent 13 attempts.
Of those four placings, three were at Group 1 level and two of them saw him beaten less than half a length.
To suggest he was overdue for win was an understatement.
Rated 108 by Timeform following his narrow defeat in the Group 1 Raffles Cup [1600m], Mr Clint virtually mirrored that performance on Sunday, rated 107.
When assessing how the race was run, it quickly becomes clear that Williams has flushed it.
There was no mark up on the performance, meaning he has run the race in a very efficient manner.
Again, a big hat tip to Williams, he is flying!
The ever consistent Countofmontecristo joined an elite list of horses to fall just short with the big weight and comes out rated the highest, returning a Timeform rating of 112.
That level of performance sees him rated alongside previous topweights Circuit Land (114), Quechua (112), War Affair (116) and Super Ninetyseven (111).
Yet to win beyond 1400m, his performance on Sunday highlights the key training performance achieved by Michael Clements with Countofmontecristo returning a clear new career peak, also worth noting he won first up over 1200m just three starts prior.
He is every owner's dream, he continues to front up and always gives his all.
