Lightly raced six-year-old gelding Assign (IRE) could be the latest player for Team Williams in the Melbourne Cup following his win in Saturday's Group II Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield but will likely need some assistance from Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter to make the field.
Leading every step of the way under a positive ride by Katelyn Mallyon, Assign held tough to defeat Big Memory (FR) (Duke Of Marmalade) by a short-half-head with Pemberley (Darci Brahma) a neck back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
Winner of the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m) at Caulfield back in February, Assign finished runner-up to stablemate
Mallyon said she felt she always had the race in control.
"He certainly dug in. He got a bit lost in the straight waiting for them to come at him but I didn't think I was ever going to be beaten," Mallyon said.
"He's barely blown a candle out after it and he's a very good horse."
Part-owner Nick Williams said Mallyon's control of pace was why he was
"She understands pace and she knows that you can't ride these European horses as though they are Australians, expecting them to go as soon as you ask them," Williams said.
"These horses you need to wind up and she seems to understand that better than most."
Williams said the son of Montjeu needs a substantial penalty to make the Melbourne Cup field.
"He's got 50kgs, so he won't get into the Melbourne Cup at the moment. I would imagine after an impressive win like that, Greg Carpenter will give him some sort of penalty.
"A race like the Bendigo Cup would suit this horse nicely though and that might be the way we go."
Previously owned by the Coolmore team in Ireland, Assign entered the Robert Hickmott stable off the back of two wins at The Curragh.
Assign's dam Belesta (Xaar) was a winner in France and is a half-sister to three stakes-winner including the Group III winner In Clover (Inchinor) the dam of Group I Prix de l'Opera winner We Are.
