The famous colours of Team Williams will be represented on at least one runner in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, thanks to Point King’s tough victory in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained gelding returned with a dominant victory over 2040m at Moonee Valley first-up, and even though he won again, this victory was nothing like the last.
Jamie Kah, who piloted the son of Zoffany first-up, gave her mount every chance from barrier four as she allowed him to settle behind the leading duo of Good Oil (+7000) and Dashing Duchess (+800).
As the leader began to slow and fall back through the pack, Kah worked off their backs and cruised into the home straight before shaking the eventual winner up as Hit The Road Jack (+1700) challenged for the lead.
With the likes of Berkshire Breeze (+240) and Horrifying (+600) finishing off with their runs down the outside, Point King (+380) and Hit The Road Jack continued to grind away and fight out the finish.
To the winners credit, he never let the runner-up go past him, and he kicked late to record a tough win to book his spot in the race that stops the nation on November 5.
Representing the ownership group, Nick Ryan spoke post-race about the win.
“It was a good win. Jamie gave him a great ride,” Williams said.
“She’s in good form, Jamie. I thought once he got to the front he looked to idle a bit to me.
“He’s done a good job there and stepping up from 2000-metres at Moonee Valley, it is a solid 2500-metres at Flemington and to do that today, in a genuinely run race in the conditions, I thought he did a good job.
“He’s a horse we like.
“He’s still on the up and he’s lightly raced.
“He put four in-a-row together over there at lower grade and up to listed level. Any horse that wins four in-a-row at any level is a good horse.
“Probably better on top of the ground.”
Following the race, Jamie Kah was very happy with the win.
“I was exactly where I wanted to be,” Kah said.
“Last start it was a blessing because he was a bit slow away.
“He’s a real thinker, this horse and I think with horses in front of him to chase down it really sparks him up.
“He’s got the class. He’s a very classy animal.
“When he gets around these horses it really sparks him up.
“He’s got all the talent in the world but he’s a real thinker. Once he sorts his brain out he’ll be right in the race.”
Point King is rated a +2000 chance in Melbourne Cup futures markets with top horse racing bookmakers.
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