Craig Williams will make a timely return to competition when he partners Signature Scent in a Group race at Caulfield this weekend.
After falling just short of overtaking Blake Shinn for the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership last month, Williams took a break from racing, heading to Ukraine to visit his wife’s family and provide humanitarian assistance.
Back in the saddle after just over two weeks away, his book of five rides on Saturday is headlined by Signature Scent in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m). The pair teamed up for a win at the same venue on July 12, with this race targeted well in advance.
Ciaron Maher’s National Assistant Trainer, Jack Turnbull, said everything has fallen into place for the filly’s preparation.
“She’s a lovely filly that has plenty of size and scope about her,” Turnbull said.
“There’s a nice sense of timing with five weeks between runs after four weeks between her first and second, and she’s going into this with a little top up at the jump-outs.
“She’s drawn nicely, she’s physically very good and all her home work suggests she should be ultra competitive.”
Maher’s other Quezette contenders are Icarian Dream and recently acquired Custom. Icarian Dream hasn’t raced since the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January, having been withdrawn from the Blue Diamond Stakes on vet’s advice the day before.
“We wanted to run in the Blue Diamond, but we weren’t allowed to,” Turnbull said.
“We were happy with her but she didn’t pass the trot up for the vets on the day before the race.
“It was disappointing, but they were just doing their job, but she was able to have six weeks off and has come back and prepped up beautifully.
“She started out at Ballarat, has come down to Cranbourne and has had two nice jump-outs. The last one was quite sharp and she did a nice bit of work on Monday.”
Custom, a Godolphin-owned filly formerly with James Cummings, joined Maher’s yard after winning a Kensington maiden on July 16.
“It’s nice when you get a filly of her calibre,” Turnbull said.
“She won her maiden pretty well at Kensington. In one of her starts she ran close to State Visit, who we really like and is Group performed.
“We gave her a jump-out at Cranbourne to try and emulate getting on the Melbourne leg, but they were down back straight, so we had to lean into the bend there.
“She’s very straight forward, is really nice to deal with, and seemingly push button.”
Fans looking to bet on the Quezette Stakes can compare odds and offers from leading betting sites before Saturday’s meeting.