Highway Sixtysix wins at Randwick

Jockey Blake Shinn rides Highway Sixtysix (far left) to win at Royal Randwick in Sydney.

Any concerns trainer Danny Williams may have had regarding Highway Sixtysix running a strong 1200 metres fresh from a long break have faded with her determined victory.

An easing favourite from $2.50 to $3.10 in Saturday’s Highway Handicap, Highway Sixtysix was taken to the front by Blake Shinn and held on to beat Nicconita ($3.80) by a short neck with Jounama ($31) another nose third.

The filly had not raced since November and Williams would have preferred to get another week’s work under her belt.

“She’s been in work for 11 weeks and I usually prefer to give my horses 12,” he said.

“But this race came up and there wasn’t anything else for her.

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“She was all out at the end of the 1200 metres but she held on.

“She does have a lot of talent and eventually I want to travel with her but we have to work on her manners. She can get over-racing so hopefully with this run she will come on from it.”

The Goulburn-based Williams has racked up 15-1/2 wins in Highway races for country-trained horses but Highway Sixtysix is likely to head to open races.

“There is an 1100-metre race at the end of the month and I definltely think she is up to the Saturday class sprinters,” Williams said.

“She is also eligible for the BOBS bonus system until the end of the month so that’s probably where we will go.”