Globetrotting jockey Craig Williams gives himself a great chance of winning the Listed $200,000 Superior Food Services Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Swacadelic at Pakenham on Saturday before he heads to Hong Kong for a short riding contract.
Swacadelic, above in purple and gold colours, is one of the main chances in the Pakenham Cup at Pakenham. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Aaron Purcell trained Swacadelic is coming off a last start second in the Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Sandown Cup (3200m) at Sandown on November 12 behind English stayer Qewy and has drawn barrier nine in the fourteen horse field.
The form around Qewy is very strong with the Godolphin owned stayer winning the Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong on October 19 three starts back before running fourth to Almandin in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1.
“I am really looking forward to the ride. I actually thought looking towards Caulfield Cup he would be a perfect horse for the Winning Edge and he just didn’t seem to be as effective in that part of his preparation but now Aaron Purcell has him going really well and really looking forward to the ride,” Williams told racing.com.
“His run last start at Sandown in the Sandown Cup was great and he is one of the main chances.”
Williams will head to Hong Kong at the end of next week to take up a five meeting contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club which will take in the rich Hong Kong International Race Day on December 11 and he will spend Christmas with his family in the busy Asian racing hub.
“They were really good. They were very accommodating,” Williams said.
“That part of the time is family time usually for me and they were really good with their contracts so it got approved last night (Tuesday).”
“I will start there on International Day on December 11th and then I will stay on there for five meetings and that will conclude on the Sha Tin meeting on Sunday the 27th of December.”
“Then I will come home and ride here on the 31st and the meeting on the 1st and then looking forward to the Magic Millions after that.”
“I will be able to spend Christmas in Hong Kong with my family so it is a great opportunity for my family and myself to get back there and compete over there.”
But before he heads to Hong Kong Williams will be concentrating on winning the Pakenham Cup on Swacadelic who is the second favourite at $4.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind last start Ballarat Cup winner Pilote D’Essai at $3.80.
Also well in the betting for the Pakenham Cup at $5 is the Robert Hickmott trained Little White Cloud who was a Flemington winner two starts back in a 2000m BenchMark 90 Handicap on November 5 before running sixth in a 2040m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Moonee Valley three weeks later.
