Press Estate and Gabrielle chase career-first victories for Gayna Williams at Gilgandra

Gilgandra's huge weekend of racing this Saturday and Sunday features two separate meetings, with the latter being the showcase edition.

While Williams would have no doubt loved the opportunity to take on the richer Sunday racing the more favourable fields and barrier draws for Saturday's races were too good to pass up.

Press Estate, making her fifth start since joining the Williams stable, gets a favourable run out of barrier two in the Maiden and Class 1 Plate (1,800 metres).

"I would have preferred her to go over the mile but she drew extremely wide so there's no value in her going there. She wouldn't even get onto the track there, so the barrier has had a big influence," Williams said.

"I haven't had her go over the 1,800m yet but she's drawn well on the Saturday, and it's an easier field. All races are hard to win but this is probably the softer option for her, even if the longer distance remains a question mark for her at this stage.

"Her second last start was encouraging. It was her first run over the mile, was still a bit green and got lost a bit when hitting the front."

Gabrielle is still chasing her first placing for Williams after four starts.

She makes her return from a lengthy spell of almost a year to take on the Maiden Plate (1,000m).

Gabrielle recently finish fourth in a trial, running behind stablemate Tags at Orange.

"Her trial was good but she's drawn wider here. Saturday's the easier option for her grade-wise. I'd prefer a better draw but you could come back the next weekend and draw even wider, so I'm keen to see her start and resume here," Williams said.

"She pulled up well from the trial. She'll probably just need a bit of luck from that draw."

Fellow Bathurst trainer Wanda Ings will also have Five Feet Apart and Pop Power in action at the meeting.

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