ASSIGN can provide owner Lloyd Williams with a record fifth win in the Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“This horse needs a mile-and-a-half to two-miles, he will be suited by the Cup distance,’’ Williams said.

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“Assign will run a very creditable race, I’m happy to take on the favourite (Big Duke).’’

Big Duke, winner of the Manion Cup and Chairman’s Handicap, is the $2.80 favourite for the Sydney Cup ahead of Assign and Who Shot The Barman at $7.

Assign also goes into the Sydney Cup as a last-start winner, proving too strong for Astronomos in the Neville Sellwood Stakes two weeks ago.

The Sydney Cup has been a good race for Williams-owned stayers with Major Drive (1987), Gallic (2007), Mourayan (2013) and Gallante (2016) all winning the Randwick stamina test.

Williams has a superb eye for a stayer and has owned a record five Melbourne Cup winners with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance ((1985), Efficient (2007), Green Moon (2012) and Almandin (2016).

media_camera Assign also goes into the Sydney Cup as a last-start winner.

“I’ve won four Sydney Cups but I’ve won the Melbourne Cup five times so I have to try and catch up,’’ Williams said.

The owner also revealed Almandin came back into the stable and had a light preparation this autumn before going back out to the spelling paddock without having a race start.

“We brought Almandin in and gave him a bit of work,’’ Williams said.

media_camera Lloyd Williams holds aloft last year’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s having a break again but he is doing well. He’s a solid two-miler and provided (Racing Victoria chief handicapper) Greg Carpenter gives him a fair weight, he will be competitive again in the Melbourne Cup.’’

Williams also described former Irish stayer Hans Holbein as a “decent horse” who he is hopeful will measure up in the spring.

media_camera Winx's trainer Chris Waller after watching his champion mare work. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Williams: “I take my hat off the him”

LLOYD Williams is a realist and concedes The United States is racing for second when he clashes with mighty mare Winx in the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“Winx is a bit too good for everyone,’’ Williams said. “I think she is right up there with the best I’ve seen.’’

The United States ran second to Lucia Valentina in the Sydney’s richest race of the autumn last year and Williams will be happy if his chestnut can fill a similar finishing position on Saturday.

Williams, one of the nation’s most successful owners and an influential voice in racing, described Chris Waller’s training and management of Winx as “extraordinary”.

“The person I really rate in relation to Winx is Chris Waller,’’ Williams said.

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“It is possible to keep a 1200m horse fresh and winning but to get a middle-distance horse like Winx and keep her winning is a remarkable effort.

“I remember when Sea The Stars won six Group 1 races in succession from the (English) 2000 Guineas to the Arc (Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe) in 2009 and it was a great training performance by John Oxx because something like that had never been done before in Europe.

“So, to do what Chris is doing with Winx, a middle-distance horse, and to keep her winning for two years deserves every major award in racing.

“His race management and how he manages her at home is very good. It is very difficult to do what he has done with a middle-distance horse.

“I look at my horses every day and I know how difficult it is so this is a great skill of Chris’s — I take my hat off to him.’’

Winx is rated at $1.08 with TAB Fixed Odd price assessors for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and it is a reflection of her absolute dominance that Hartnell is next at $11 and the United States is on the third line of betting at $17.

Williams said the United States will run a competitive race but felt Winx is in a different league to his stayer.

“The United States will go out there and do the best he can and if he can run in the prizemoney he will have done well,’’ Williams said.

“He is a good second-tier horse but he is not one of the elite Group 1 horses who is going to win six or seven Group 1 races.

“He is not that sort of horse but I’d love to have a stable full of horses like him because he is very, very honest and from 1400m to 2400m he will give you his best.’’