Williams lands title as Oliver takes feature race
Craig Williams cemented the metropolitan jockeys' premiership, his double on Flinders River and Morrissy confirming his status as the state's numerical number one at the last city meeting of the season at Caulfield.
But his main rival, Damien Oliver, gained some compensation when he took out the main event, the group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, aboard the Godolphin sprinter Viridine.
The 1200-metre Bletchingly is often used by top trainers to launch the early spring campaigns of their stable stars.
Craig Williams, pictured after winning the 2019 Melbourne Cup, is No.1 in another contest. Credit:Eddie Jim
Group one winners like Scales of Justice, Vega Magic, Shoot Out and Apache Cat have saluted in the Bletchingly over the past 13 years; it would be surprising if Godolphin did not use this win as a springboard to give Viridine his chance to succeed in the highest grade, perhaps in handicap company.
Oliver kept his cool on Viridine as the veteran Jungle Edge blazed a trail up front and stuck to the rail.
Eventually the gap came and he pushed through, his willing partner galloping on strongly to account for Streets of Avalon and Great Again, who had been prominent throughout.
Damien Oliver won the feature race at the group 3 Bletchingly Stakes aboard the Godolphin sprinter Viridine.Credit:Getty Images
The runner-up, who sprang a long odds surprise when he scored in the group 1 Futurity Stakes over Caulfield's 1400m in the autumn, showed he was in good shape for a spring campaign.
His trainer, Shane Nichols, plans to aim his horse at races like the PB Lawrence Stakes, the group 1 Memsie Stakes and Rupert Clarke over the next few months.
The firmer track suited the first two on Saturday - but not the old warhorse Jungle Edge. He had beaten Viridine in the Sir John Monash Stakes a fortnight earlier at the same venue but could not match that effort on the sounder surface.
Nick Ryan was a fantastic young rider until weight brought his career in the saddle to a premature end, but he is building a reputation as one of the bright young trainers in Melbourne.
He landed another city prize when Mahamedeis proved he could stay 2400m when delivered at just the right time by Rhys McLeod to land the Vobis Gold Stayers Handicap from long-time leader Sasko.
Ryan said he had trialled Mahamedeis over hurdles and he had shaped as a natural. However, plans to go over obstacles will now be shelved for the time being with a race like the Bendigo Cup in the spring a potential target on the flat.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace continued their great run by saddling two quinellas early in the day when Flinders River beat Galactic Fury in the two-year-old race. Promising young stayer High Emocean then ran down her stablemate, top weighted Persan, to collect in the 2400m handicap for three-year-olds.
Mystery Shot made it five straight wins when he justified favouritism in the last event under Michael Rodd.