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By Brad Gray
At Rosehill Gardens

Williams Shows Kosciuzsko Hand
The long drive back to Goulburn will be an enjoyable one for Danny Williams on Saturday night.

Don’t Give A Damn went some way to vindicating Williams’ big opinion of the horse, holding off smart sprinter Trekking.

Danny Williams (Pic: Bradley Photos)

“He showed his dominance. It’s the first time in four runs he has been completely sound,” said Williams.

“We’ll let the dust settle but there is a race here over 1400m in a fortnight and that will give us an idea as go whether he go towards an Epsom or freshen him up for The Kosciuszko."

Williams went on to reveal that Don’t Give A Damn beat She Knows by five lengths in a gallop on Tuesday morning so it gave him plenty of confidence after She Knows finished second in an earlier race with a whopping 63.5kg and having covered ground.

“It was a big run, the ground was shifty and when you are carrying those kind of weights it makes it even more difficult. She thrives off racing so she’ll take plenty of improvement from that,” said Williams.

Highway Sixtysix fluffed the start in the TAB Highway Handicap before rattling home in 11.45s her last 200m (Punters Intel). Williams has no doubt she’ll be winning next time she steps out, without the ear muffs on which were blamed for the poor start.

D’argento To Be Saved For Theo
D’argento’s next run is likely to be in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 8.

“We haven’t locked anything in yet but we’ll most likely hold him back for the Theo Marks and then keep him sharp and go straight into the Epsom,” said Chris Waller.

“In the Epsom he’ll have a reasonable weight and that’s his chance to win a Group One handicap. Then he has the next few years to be racing in weight for age races.”

The flashy grey four-year-old will be nominated for next week’s G2 Chelsmford Stakes but is very unlikely to run. Waller will still be well represented with Unforgotten, Single Gaze, Satono Rasen, Religify, Patrick Erin, One Foot In Heaven and Libran all heading that way.

And what about Tom Melbourne? He’ll be first up in the Tramway Stakes.

Golden Future For Lees Colt
“He’s the best colt I’ve had anything to do with."

Kris Lees didn’t mince his words after Graff had dominated the G3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens. Punters Intel reveals Graff’s last 600m of 34.28s which was three lengths superior to the next best.

Away goes Graff... (Pic: Steve Hart)

“I’m really pleased with how he’s come back and I think there’s some nice races in store for him. He’ll go to the The Run To The Rose and then to the Golden Rose.”

TAB reacted by slashing Graff’s Golden Rose price from $51 to $8 to be second in the market behind only The Autumn Sun ($6).

“When he won at Hawkesbury he just thought about things and came off the bridle a touch but he’s a pretty serious horse,” Lees said referring to the blinkers going on.

“He could be (a miler). He’s got that type of attitude and he’s quite relaxed in his work at home.”

Chabreet Blitzes Them At Newcastle
Don’t let Chabreet slip under your guard the next time he appears.

The Snowden-trained three-year-old gave his rivals a touch up at Newcastle over the 900m dash. It was expected, given he started $1.30 with TAB.

“He has always been a smart horse, you only have to look at the early races we put him in. He just wasn’t ready. He was doing a lot wrong,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden.

Snowden, who ran Chabreet in the G2 Pago Pago at his second career start still has a maiden, is confident those wayward days are behind the son of Exceed Of Excel now. He wouldn’t have been out of his depth in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill but as for what’s next, that’s still unclear.

“We want to see how he pulls up but he’ll run in something a lot stronger next start,” said Snowden.

On Newcastle, Chris Waller's blueblood mare Girl Tuesday (Street Cry x Tuesday Day) rounded up her rivals brilliantly later in the meeting after being slowly away on debut.

Chabreet never looked like losing at Newcastle

What now for Avilius?
“He has still got to prove he can stay just yet.”

Avilius returning to scale (Pic: Steve Hart)

That was the word of warning James Cummings offered after Avilius consolidated his spot at the top of betting for The Metropolitan having won the G3 Premier’s Cup (1900m).

“He’s a really laid back horse but he was classy the moment he arrived at Osborne Park. Of our imported horses he just really looked the part,” said Cummings.

There were a few moments of concern for the $1.60 favourite after he was pinned between runners entering the straight but once Glyn Schofield found clear running he set out after the very game I Am Serious.

“He was a weapon once Glyn got him out and hit the line strongly. I think he is certainly one to keep following,” said Cummings.

“Whether we go to the Kingston Town or the Newcastle Cup next we’ll just wait and see how quickly he recovers and how far he wants to go next.

"We’ll nominate for The Metropolitan and I reckon he might be worthwhile nominating for the Caulfield Cup too. We’ll keep poking along with him and not get too carried away but I wouldn’t be limiting how far he can get this time.”

Check out all of the results and replays for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.