Peter Williams has been in the racing game for long enough that he doesn’t get overawed by the big occasions these days.
By his own reckoning, 2024 marks the 50th year that Williams has held a trainer’s licence, and on Saturday the New Zealander will saddle up Desert Lightning in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield.
“It’s just a race, but we don’t get those sorts of races in New Zealand,” said Williams, who these days trains in partnership with his wife Dawn.
“We’ve had horses in the Sydney Cup and things like that over the years, so it doesn’t get to me too much.”
It’s been a while between visits to Melbourne for Williams, whose last trip to Caulfield was in March 2005 when he won a three-year-old handicap with Fiscal Madness (NZ) (Volksraad).
Already a Group One winner, Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) earned his spot in the All-Star Mile by taking out the Aotearoa Classic at Ellerslie in January, while since then, he finished third in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic.
“His races have been good,” Williams said.
“His last start, he got a wet track … and he hated it. If he gets a reasonable track, he’ll be fine.”
Desert Lightning arrived in Melbourne on Sunday and will have regular rider Vinnie Colgan in the saddle at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sportsbet has the son of Pride Of Dubai at $17 in their market for the All-Star Mile.
“He’s a good galloper and take Mr Brightside out of the race, he’s a chance,” Williams said.