Craig Williams is hoping it will be third time lucky for Godolphin sprinter in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley.
After a quartet of winners at Flemington on Wednesday, Williams will ride partner Trekking for just the second time in his 37-start career in Friday night’s 1000m scamper.
Trekking was just under 1-¾ lengths off the winner Nature Strip in the 2019 Moir Stakes when beaten into eighth place while last year speedster Pippie held him off by three-quarters-of-a-length when a closing second under John Allen.
Williams’ only other ride on Trekking was four years ago when the then three-year-old finished fourth to Merchant Navy in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
A lot of horses have come and gone since then, but Trekking has been an evergreen sprinter for Godolphin and his trainer James Cummings.
And a forward showing on Friday night could see Trekking again line up in the Royal Blue colours of Godolphin in the $15 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 17.
Trekking finished fourth to Classique Legend last year and was third to Yes Yes Yes the year prior.
He resumed with a closing third behind Nature Strip and Wild Ruler, an opponent on Friday night, in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 4.
Williams was delighted to see Trekking come up with barrier three for Friday night’s race.
“He’s run twice in the race before, was second last year and produced a good run the year before from a wider draw,” Williams said.
“He’s drawn favourably, so it will be interesting to see how the track is going to play.
“A horse that can run third in an Everest should be good enough to win a Moir, but it is a cracking Moir.
“There is the three-year-old colt that is favourite (Profiteer) that worked really well there the other morning that is very fast, so he’ll be a horse in front that will need to be run down.
“But I was delighted with my horses first-up run in Sydney.”