Ian Williams is taking aim at the bumper prize-money on offer at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot, lining up a strong raiding party.
The in-form Alvechurch handler has the biggest team of any stable tackling the international team challenge at the Berkshire venue on a day worth £510,000 spread over six races.
However, his Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi did not make the final field for the two-mile Stayers race as he was only first reserve. He will now head straight for the Ebor at York.
“It is a day of quite small fields and quite high prize-money so it is always an interesting day. You have the very best in the world and some of the best in their own jurisdictions, but everybody riding is very experienced and very capable,” he said.
Williams has last year’s Challenge winner Night Breeze coming back for a repeat bid under Dylan Browne McMonagle and Ozat with Ryan Moore in the Mile.
“Ozat didn’t get the run of the race the two runs ago at Sandown – he broke too well and did too much – but he was right back to himself at Goodwood last time despite getting no run on the inner and getting stopped numerous times inside the last two furlongs.
“It didn’t allow him to show his best ability so we are hoping hoping a smaller field on a big wide open track should suit. Hopefully he will get a bit more luck on Saturday with Ryan doing the steering.
“Night Breeze has drawn Dylan Browne McMonagle. He won the race last year and has crept up the weights a little bit in his last two races but has been running very well in very competitive events.
“He is up another 2lb on Saturday but is a horse in good form and hopefully he brings his A game to the races.
“We also run Enemy in the same race. Dropping down in trip wouldn’t be any problem for him around Ascot but he is getting on in years and needs to arrive in tip top condition which we hope he is.
“These older horses do need everything to go right for them on the day, though.”
Williams still has three in the Dubai Duty Free Stayers Handicap with Oneforthegutter, Dancing In Paris and Hermetic having made the cut.
“Dancing In Paris ran very well at Ascot three weeks ago and we were disappointed not to get in at Goodwood. One For The Gutter is very fairly handicapped on some of his decent form over the last couple of years and Hermetic ran a really nice race at Newcastle last time.
“Of the three, Hermetic is certainly one that looks in there off a nice weight with his previous form taken into consideration.”
Baltic Fleet makes up the guaranteed seven in the Classic and will bid to put a pulled-up effort at Goodwood behind him.
“It was a rather a bizarre non event at Goodwood last time, but he was fit and well going into that and he is fit and well coming out of it. We have put a visor on him instead and we will try and ride him quite differently to the patient tactics we tried to do there.”
Beylerbeyi still looks a live candidate for the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor on the Knavesmire and both Williams and regular partner Billy Loughnane are keen on the horse’s chances after his fourth at Newmarket last time out, finishing on the bridle after being repeatedly blocked close home.
Despite his Cesarewitch win Williams has no qualms aiming at the mile-and-three-quarters trip at York.
“It certainly looked as though that trip was right up his street at Newmarket hen he was unfortunate,” he said.
“He is not an easy ride, but he is a horse that Billy gets on very well with. With regard to York, Billy likes the horse and he is a very adaptable and is very capable at a mile and a half upwards.
“What he needs is the race run right for him and that is not always easy to predict beforehand. But we will hope the cards fall right there and let’s hope we can have a couple of really good winners on Saturday.”
