Craig Williams is banking on the renowned horse skills of trainer Robbie Laing to help him win his first Group One Blue Diamond Stakes aboard She's Got Gears.Williams, who has had a busy week riding in Hong Kong on Tuesday before flying back for Wednesday's Mornington Cup meeting, has partnered She's Got Gears in three of her four starts, including a debut win in the Listed AGL Stakes at Flemington in November.However, the youngster has struggled to handle the tighter-turning Caulfield track at
Craig Williams is banking on the renowned horse skills of trainer Robbie Laing to help him win his first Group One Blue Diamond Stakes aboard She's Got Gears.
Williams, who has had a busy week riding in Hong Kong on Tuesday before flying back for Wednesday's Mornington Cup meeting, has partnered She's Got Gears in three of her four starts, including a debut win in the Listed AGL Stakes at Flemington in November.
However, the youngster has struggled to handle the tighter-turning Caulfield track at her past two starts, finishing sixth to Crystal Lily in the Blue Diamond Preview and second to Psychologist in the Prelude two weeks ago.
Williams said Laing had been working hard to rectify the filly's tractability issues and was hopeful a new mouthpiece would help her handle racing around a corner.
"She's got the ability to be very competitive but she's been losing two lengths coming around the bends at her last couple and you can't afford to do that in a Blue Diamond," Williams said.
"Robbie Laing has been trying to change her gear and she'll have a different bit on Saturday.
"I know he's been very happy with her work.
"If there is a bit of give in the track it will enhance her chances."
She's Got Gears has drawn ideally in barrier two and is a $21 chance for the Blue Diamond (1200m) with TAB Sportsbet.
She is among a handy book of rides for Williams at Caulfield along with the Peter Moody-trained Avenue in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
Williams will jump aboard the noted leader for the first time with regular jockey Luke Nolen booked to partner her stablemate Wanted, one of four Moody-trained runners in the Oakleigh Plate.
The winner of four of her six starts, Avenue will have to overcome a wide draw in barrier 12 of 13 but Williams saw plenty of positives in her first-up fifth to Here De Angels in the Rubiton Stakes when she led and fought on well to be beaten just 1-1/4 lengths.
"She was great the other day. She was only narrowly beaten first-up and she will derive plenty of fitness from that," Williams said.
Williams has rides in all seven stakes races on Saturday with his remaining mounts headed by the Nigel Blackiston-trained Littorio in the Group Two St George Stakes (1800m) and No Evidence Needed for Patinack Farm in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m).