Craig Williams rode his fifth Geelong Cup winner on Wednesday courtesy of Caravan Rolls On.
The race changed complexion a number of times with lead changes in the back straight as first Marksmanship led, then Ominous and then Correggio.
Williams was comfortable in mid-field with Caravan Rolls On while all this activity was going on up front.
As they came around the final turn Correggio was still prominent, but then Waltzing To Win and Ben Claridge made a challenge but could not sustain it, and Marksmanship took over again.
As they came off the turn there was a wide gap down near the rails and Williams angled Caravan Rolls On into as the others went wide out in the middle. From that point they simply motored to the line for a 3/4L win.
Marksmanship was second with Like A Carousel third, the margin a long neck.
The time was 2.31.22 on the Dead 4 track. Caravan Rolls On paid $8.60 on the tote and $8.50 on fixed odds.
“He is a genuine two miler and we had to keep him fresh today for the 2400m. He was three and a half weeks between runs and we have had to keep the spring in his step to run the mile and a half,” said trainer Danny O’Brien.
“Over two miles he will improve two or three lengths on what he showed today. I hope he gets a penalty (for the Cup). If he gets to two miles that is his zone and he would be a top six chance for sure,” he said.
“The way he came into the yard, the gear change, the way he stood in the gates he was a real racehorse today. He really outstayed them late,” said Williams.
Williams was circumspect about comparing Caravan Rolls On with Dunaden, but said Caravan Rolls On could not do any more than win the way he did.
Caravan Rolls On is a seven-year-old entire by Hernando out of the Machiavellian mare Grain Only and he was bred by prominent UK breeder Kirsten Rausing who won the Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday with her home-bred Madame Chiang.
This was Caravan Rolls On’s seventh win from 18 starts and he has overall won stakes of $461,879.
The chances of Caravan Rolls On racing in the Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) depends on a significant weight penalty to take his current 51kg higher up the order of entry.