Craig Williams answers Munce call for Coota

By Brad Bishop (Racing & Sports)

Craig Williams is always happy to chat to fellow Grand Slam-winning jockey Chris Munce, but when the conversation includes an offer to ride a horse, he gets particularly excited.

Which is why Williams will be riding in Brisbane this Saturday.

The star Victorian hoop will be aboard the Munce-trained Miss Coota in the $250,000 Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.

Munce reached out to Williams last month and all it took was a quick look at the unbeaten daughter of Spirit Of Boom's form card for Williams to commit to testing her out as a potential ride in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14.

"Chris Munce has never wasted my time," Williams said.

"When he calls me, I know it's not for nothing.

"I've only ridden a few times for Chris, but I've had a bit of success for him and when he rang up for one particular horse my ears pricked up and we looked into her.

"I've looked at her form and looked at her profile you can only be excited about her."

Williams and Munce have teamed seven times with Palaisipan's win on Ipswich Cup Day last year their standout performance.

The McLachlan Stakes will be Miss Coota's third start following brilliant wins, both with Justin Huxtable in the saddle, to start her career in October.

After a 7-1/2-length win over 1000m at Eagle Farm on debut, she cruised home by 5-1/4 lengths in an 1110m event at Doomben on October 22.

"She's been very impressive and she looks nice and solid," Williams said.

"My manager spoke to Chris in the lead-up (to this weekend) and he said she's had a little bit of a rest but has come back and he's happy with her.

"The next four weeks really structures the market for the Magic Millions, so it's an exciting time."

Miss Coota is one of 11 entries for the McLachlan Stakes, which include Miss Coota's stablemates Freeman and She's A Rogue, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Novelist, Peter and Paul Snowden-trained debutant Godzilla and Mighty for Tony Gollan and Annabel Neasham's Excel D'Or.