Push for staying power

RECENT Hall Of Fame inductee, leviathan owner Lloyd Williams, has called for Racing Victoria to revamp its program to accommodate high-quality stayers.

Williams said it was difficult to place last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Almandin in a leadup to another tilt at the race and hoped in the future the program for stayers would be changed.

He is looking at Almandin returning in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 16 at Flemington.

Williams would prefer for Almandin to return to racing in a staying event, but the racing calendar doesn’t accommodate high-class stayers in August and September.

“In Melbourne it is very difficult as there aren’t any races at 2000m or further at weight-forage or quality set weights handicaps in those months,” he said.

Williams said it is much easier for northern hemisphere stayers to prepare for the Melbourne Cup with many more suitable lead-up races.

“In the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe it is much easier to prepare stayers as there are more set-weight races over distances at 2000m, 2400m, 2600m and 2800m.”

Williams said that staying racing at Group and Listed level had changed in Australia because of the influx of northern hemisphere stayers.

He pointed out that horses which are rated from 80 to 95, which he referred to as “the handicappers”, were well catered for.

“Horses which are rated at 100 and over are very difficult to place in lead-up races to our major races. I hope over time the industry amends the program,” he said.

Almandin, rated 103, hasn’t started since he won the Melbourne Cup.