Williams likes his Classic chances

CHARTERS Towers trainer Ben Williams will have double the chance to take out today’s $100,000 Townsville RSL Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) at Cluden Park.

Williams has two runners in North Queensland’s richest two-year-old race with Wicked Dancer (1) and Our Alicia’s Lane (5).

Wicked Dancer has placed in three of his six starts at Cluden Park, including one win, and he’s shown plenty of promise this prep after finishing fourth in the Two-YearOld Classic Prelude.

Our Alicia’s Lane has two wins and a third from five starts in Townsville and finished a strong third in the Prelude behind Valuate and Dalon, who will both run in today’s feature.

Williams admitted he might have liked his two horses to switch barriers, but he was confident they were tracking for big performances.

“We’ve got one horse that races on speed that actually drew five and the other fella that probably sits back and has a last crack and he’s drawn one,” Williams said.

“If I was to really be picky I might’ve liked to have reversed the draw, but I couldn’t ask to be any better.

“They had a good break so I found they’d take one or two runs to come back as good as I wanted. They’re both fit now and they’re exactly how I want them.”

Valuate (10) for Townsville trainer Alby Molino has the form after winning the Prelude while Mackay filly Cyclone Topgirl (4) has performed exceptionally at benchmark level with six wins from seven starts.

Dalon (7) has also been building well for Townsville trainer George Coleman, with two wins and two seconds from four starts at Cluden Park.

Williams admitted the earlier timing of this year’s TwoYear-Old Classic had led to a “couple of little hiccups” for his preparations, but he said both Wicked Dancer and Our Alicia’s Lane had improved since their last starts.

“I couldn’t be any happier with them. In the early season for the two-year-olds they did exactly what we wanted,” he said.

“Their second runs were really, really awesome and heading into Saturday I’ve had the benefit of a jumpout and both horses have come forward in leaps and bounds.”

Williams has yet to train a winner in the prestigious race, but believed Wicked Dancer and Our Alicia’s Lane were primed to finally help him take home the silverware. editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost

IF I WAS TO REALLY BE PICKY I MIGHT’VE LIKED TO HAVE REVERSED THE DRAW, BUT I COULDN’T ASK TO BE ANY BETTER BEN WILLIAMS, TRAINER