Williams waiting to know when filly's had enough
Danny Williams admits to being none the wiser as to whether She Knows has come to the end of her preparation as the canny Goulburn trainer plots a spring campaign with his progressive filly.
Williams has an eye on loftier targets with She Knows, which is set to start as one of two favourites for the stable at Randwick on Saturday.
The ultra consistent five-race winner has featured in the quinella in six of her seven starts this campaign, but Williams is mulling when to send the Denman filly to the paddock with a view to bigger prizes later in the year.
"I wasn't happy with the way she was being handicapped out of Highway races going into Saturday, but she lifts the bar every time she goes out," Williams said. "She just keeps improving, and she's such an adaptable or strong filly she makes the handicapper good at his job.
"Has she come to the end of her prep? I was extremely happy with the way she came through her last run, but you just don't know when they've come to the end of it. This is her longest prep so far, and we've been very conservative with her."
New Zealand apprentice Sam Weatherley, who astutely piloted She Knows to a last-start win over 1000 metres on a heavy track at Randwick, retains the mount with conditions set to be replicated this weekend.
She Knows was a $4 favourite on Thursday for the Randwick last.
"She's a gross little filly and it takes her a couple of runs to come back each time," Williams said. "We were hoping perhaps in the spring there might be a couple of [mares] races.
"It really depends on how she goes on Saturday, and if she was to win on Saturday we might give her a break straight away. If she runs well we might only give her a couple of weeks off."
Williams is hoping to start the day on a bright note when Highway Sixtysix, which finished behind She Knows in a Highway Handicap last year, resumes in the country-restricted race at Randwick.
The filly was due to stake her claim for a spot in the lucrative Country Championships final earlier this year but missed her entire campaign when she contracted a virus on the eve of the series.
Williams has been forced to add concussion plates to Highway Sixtysix due to the frost-affected tracks she has been working on at Goulburn in preparation for a return to the races.
"The ground has become really dry and we've put concussion shoes on quite a lot of horses," Williams said. "She was just feeling the ground here. It's no issue.
"She's matured mentally, and last preparation at Rosehill she had most probably come to the end of it. She's only been back 11 weeks, which is not perfect, but this race has come along at the right time. Another week would have been nice, but she's done a fair bit of work.
"She hasn't had a barrier trial or jump-out this preparation, but her work has been nice."
Blake Shinn will take the mount on Highway Sixtysix, who was a $2.60 favourite with Sportsbet on Thursday.