Gravano surprises

Trainer Peter Williams was the first to admit he was in two minds about whether to start progressive stayer Gravano at Ellerslie on Saturday. Williams, who prepares the gelding with wife Dawn at their Byerley Park base, acknowledged he only made the decision to start the horse on Saturday morning after being in two minds throughout the week. The decision proved the correct one as the Roc De Cambes gelding outfinished race favourite Eleonora in the closing stages of the Australian Turf Club Trophy (1500).‘‘He was going to go the Nathans Memorial in two weeks,’’ Williams said. ‘‘However I didn’t have anything suitable to run him in before then so I said to the owners if it rains I will run him otherwise he will stay in his box and we will go to the Kaimai Classic (Matamata) next week.’’