Williams primed for Penrith features

Penrith Harness Racing Club will host two of its annual feature races tonight with the running of the $20,400 Futures Finals.

The first is an open race for entires, geldings and mares (Race 4) with the second (Race 6) restricted to mares.

Heats of the series were run last Thursday at Penrith, well supported by trainers from throughout the Sydney basin.

In the past, winners in the respective finals have gone onto bigger things, including last year’s winner Loyalist for trainer Joe Conolly, who has since won multiple races at Tabcorp Park Menangle and took out the 2023 Redcliffe Gold Cup.

Troy Williams is being recognised tonight as Penrith’s leading local trainer for last season and is hoping he can have a strong hand in both the Futures finals with multiple runners in each.

Williams has enjoyed a great run of success at his home track in recent years and concentrates most of his racing at Penrith, occasionally heading to Menangle when the time is right.

He is strongly represented in each of the features and believes all four finalists are primed to run well.

In the first of those finals, Grey Cadillac has come up with gate one, while his other pacer Major Statement sees Troy bookend the field in gate 11.

Grey Cadillac is drawn to gain a similar run to last week when he sat behind the leader and failed by a mere half head behind Timely Sovereign.

In contrast, Major Statement did plenty of work in the run and was brave in finishing fourth behind Diletto.

Again, Williams has had luck in the barrier draw with Justadiva gaining the pole position while his heat winner, Charlies Ace was not as fortunate and has it all to do from gate nine.

“It is great that I have live chances in both finals,” said Williams.

“We do the majority of our racing at Penrith as it’s our home track, and it would be a thrill if we were able to take home at least one of the club’s feature races.

“Having studied the form and opposition in each final, I feel that my horses have realistic winning chances as they a fit and primed to go well.

“With the draw being preferential, based on their national rating, I had a fair idea of where each of my horses would draw.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW