In-form Assertive Billy Wins Again

Saturday, 19 November 2011 06:00

Another determined victory from Assertive Billy has earned the in-form stayer a crack at the Listed Christmas Cup.

Assertive Billy won at $101 at Rosehill two weeks ago and showed that performance was no fluke when he scored again in Saturday's Sydney Carnival 2012 Handicap (2200m).

The Steve Englebrecht-trained gelding, who started at $11, travelled three-wide from the 1200m mark of the race but appeared the enjoy the galloping room.

He fought off his rivals in the straight to defeat Pregrada ($7) by half a length with a half-neck to Shawnee Girl ($9) third.

Favourite Altonio ($3.40) was never in the hunt and came 10th.

"I think you've nearly got to have a crack at a Christmas Cup now," Englebrecht said.

"It falls in nicely into his program. The 2400 metres shouldn't be a worry and it would be a nice race for him."

The Listed Christmas Cup is at Rosehill on December 10.

Assertive Billy settled down worse than midfield but apprentice Shaun Guymer elected to peel out and let the gelding stride along three-wide.

The Reset six-year-old continued to improve his position and found plenty in the straight to bag his eighth win at his 40th start.

"He's going really well the old boy. He's hit a purple patch," Englebrecht said.

"I was a bit critical of the boy when he popped him out three wide 1200 metres from home but he got him rolling and going forward and he just kept going."

Assertive Billy's performance also brought up a victory for Guymer at his fourth consecutive Saturday meeting.