Australia: Chris Williams and Ulysses team up again at Warwick Farm
The 4-year-old Australian-bred Ulysses has been the highlight of December for Chris Williams, a 29-year-old apprentice jockey.
Ulysses gave Williams his most recent win through Monday in a handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse on Dec. 9. Ulysses and Williams are back at Warwick Farm in Sydney on Wednesday for another appearance in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs. They will race against some of the same rivals as the Dec. 9 race.
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Williams rode Ulysses for the second time in that race. They seem to get along. Williams was second aboard Ulysses in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick in May.
On Dec. 9, Ulysses stalked the pace and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Strawb, a contender in Wednesday’s race. Sanctioned, third in that race at 50-1, is also part of Wednesday’s race, which drew a field of 16.
Ulysses, a winner of 3 of 12 starts, is trained by brothers Richard and Michael Freedman. The win on Dec. 9 ended a five-race losing streak, since winning a six-furlong handicap at Newcastle in April.
The presence of Williams reduces the weight assignments on Ulysses from 134.4 pounds to 131 pounds on Wednesday.
Strawb will carry 130 pounds in his 10th career start. A four-time winner, Strawb won consecutive starts in seven-furlong handicaps at Newcastle Racecourse in June and July, but is winless in his last three races. Strawb closed well to just miss catching Ulysses on Dec. 9.
Rammstein, a winner of 2 of 10 starts, has been second in his last two races, a nose loss in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 20 and a loss by 1 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong handicap at the same venue on Dec. 5.
Rammstein, who will carry 131 pounds on Wednesday, tends to set the pace, a style that worked for a win in a maiden race at Canterbury Park in January.
Warwick Farm has a seven-race program that begins at 10:10 p.m., Eastern, or 7:10 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.