Quiet week ahead for Matthew Williams

In the lead-up to what is invariably a busy period for trainers, Warrnambool horseman Matthew Williams is taking advantage of a quiet week.

Williams will make the trip to Sandown on Saturday with Alma’s Rossa who runs in the Super VOBIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Benchmark 70 race.

Alma’s Rossa will be the lone starter for Williams for the week in the lead-up to Christmas before the trainer has anywhere between seven and 10 runners in the days that follow.

Williams picked out Saturday’s race after Alma’s Rossa took out a Class One Handicap on her home track at the start of the month.

Alma’s Rossa had broken her maiden status at that track at her previous start.

Williams said Alma’s Rossa would gallop on the course proper at Warrnambool on Tuesday morning which would be her final piece of work.

He said the filly was an easy horse to train.

“She’s a typical Testa Rossa, no trouble at all,” Williams said.

“She eats great and goes about her work easily but she’s not a flash track worker.

“She doesn’t set the track on fire when she gallops but she certainly comes out and has a good crack on race day.

“It doesn’t look too strong on the nominations at this stage and it’s really a glorified midweek fillies race but we’re certainly happy to be racing for Saturday prize money.”

Alma’s Rossa will be ridden by apprentice Jye McNeil who moved to within one win of outriding his metropolitan claim at Flemington on Saturday.

He said even if McNeil rides a winner at Sandown on Wednesday, where he has seven rides, the apprentice will still be able to take advantage of his 1.5kg claim.

However it may throw a spanner in the plans of Williams for Caulfield next Monday when he has already booked McNeil for a couple of rides.

“I suppose I had better keep on eye on what happens at Sandown on Wednesday,” Williams said.

“I know I won’t be cheering for him too hard on Wednesday though.”