Williams and Eurell reunite in Sydney

By Mandy Cottell

SYDNEY, Sept 29 AAP - Craig Williams has a perfect record for trainer Greg Eurell in Sydney but that wasn't what swayed connections to snap him up for the Epsom Handicap mount on Pinker Pinker.

"It was a pretty good ride he got up there on Apache (Cat)," Eurell said of Williams' only Sydney ride for him aboard the wonderful campaigner in the 2006 Phar Lap Stakes.

"There's actually not too many riders who rode him that didn't win a race on him."

Pinker Pinker has 52.5kg in the Epsom and Eurell was thrilled to secure the lightweight Williams after injury ruled out Glen Boss.

Williams, who won the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes aboard Toorak Toff last Saturday, will be having his first race ride on Pinker Pinker.

"He had a little sit on her on Monday morning in trackwork to get a bit more familiar with her," Eurell said.

"If she gets through it (Epsom) well and runs creditably hopefully we can head to the Cox Plate."

Pinker Pinker has been in glowing form, winning the Group Two Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) second-up and running King's Rose to a head in the Stocks Stakes (1600m) last start.

Eurell isn't fazed about the much-publicised poor recent Epsom record of mares with none successful since La Neige 35 years ago.

"It's not something that I'm concerned with and I'm sure that on the day, all things being equal, this mare will give it a fair shake," Eurell said.

Pinker Pinker, the $6 second favourite, will be one of two Epsom runners for Eurell along with Red Colossus (Christian Reith).

He is at $21 but far from a second-stringer.

"He's a nice horse this bloke, I've got a lot of time for him," Eurell said.

"He's probably at his best now. He took a long time maturing. He's always been a big, strong horse but racing has always been the thing that was going to help him along.

"First-up in the Memsie he was terrific and then the Dato, it was a really wishy-washy run race.

"He got flushed out early and it just didn't pan out his way.

"He's a genuine horse, he always gives his best and whether it's wet or dry it doesn't matter."

Red Colossus was third to King's Rose in the Memsie (1400m) and fifth to Rekindled Interest in the Dato Tan Chin Nam (1600m).