Craig Williams reignited his quest for a tenth Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership with a strong treble at Flemington on Saturday, closing the gap to rival Blake Shinn as the season nears its conclusion.
Williams’ three winners at the meeting helped him reduce the deficit to five wins behind Shinn, with 25 metropolitan races remaining before the end of the season. Prior to last Wednesday’s Sandown meeting, Williams had narrowed the margin to four, but Shinn responded with a treble of his own while Williams went winless that day.
Despite the setback, Williams took comfort in walking away from the meeting unharmed after one of his mounts went amiss during the race. “Last Wednesday I went to the races and said Blake has got some great rides, and I’ve got some good rides,” Williams said. “He came away with three winners and I didn’t have one, but what I got out of the day was I had a horse that went amiss, and I got to drive home in my own car.”
He added, “My wife came home and said it’s all well and good that you’re trying to win a premiership, but you are home and I’m happy. It’s all about perspective.”
Williams has bounced back with renewed motivation, and the title race continues this Wednesday at Sandown, where he has a full book of eight rides while Shinn is engaged in seven, including three early favourites. Williams will ride Leaving Las Vegas in the opening event.
“I love hunting, and I need to hunt as Blake is unbelievable,” Williams said. “Wednesday is sorted, Caulfield on Saturday is nearly sorted and the final Wednesday is coming together nicely. My manager Jason Breen is working really hard.”
Williams is expected to ride one of Godolphin’s Kin, Kallos, or Inhibitions in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield for trainer James Cummings. He was hopeful to retain the ride on In Flight, who claimed the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on July 12, but the Joe Pride-trained mare has returned to Sydney.
“Unfortunately, my horse that won the other day has gone home,” Williams said. “I begged Joe to leave her down here for my own selfish ambitions.”
Win or lose, Williams will take a well-deserved break after the season wraps up on July 30, heading to Ukraine the next day. “I was hoping to go earlier, but Blake changed it,” he joked.
Track Williams and Shinn’s progress across the remaining meetings through the latest updates on trusted betting sites.
