Williamsburg could face Fireburn in a Champagne Stakes showdown at Randwick next weekend after the readily improving colt warmed up for the Group 1 with a win in Saturday's Listed Fernhill Stakes.
Now the winner of three of his five starts, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained speedster is rated a 9/1 chance to prevent the all-conquering Fireburn from completing Sydney's juvenile Triple Crown.
'Tough'
"He's tough, he cops his racing really well," Ryan said after Kerrin McEvoy partnered Williamsburg to his latest length-and-a-quarter success.
"When Kerrin first rode him in a trial, he said to me that whatever he does as a two-year-old, he'll be a better three-year-old.
"We aimed him at the two races and he's delivered both times. If he comes through this race like he has before, I'll have no hesitation backing him up in the Champagne.
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"He's proven on heavy tracks, he's proven at a mile and he's proven he's tough. You only get one crack at a Champagne."
Other contenders
Williamsburg will face a far tougher assignment next week when he tackles not only Fireburn, who will be aiming to become the first horse since Pierro a decade ago to sweep Sydney's juvenile triple crown, but also the likes of She's Extreme, who has chased home Fireburn in both the Golden Slipper and Sires' Produce, as well as Let'srollthedice and Daumier.
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