Craig Williams’ Path To Elusive Cup Win

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Craig Williams

CRAIG WILLIAMS' PATH TO ELUSIVE WIN

  • Started his career as an apprentice rider for father Alan in 1993
  • First of more than 50 Group One wins on Grand Echezeaux in the 2000 Australasian Oaks
  • Stints riding in the United Kingdom, Dubai and , where he teamed up with trainer
  • Returned to Australia in 2005 along with Hayes to ride for
  • Five-time Scobie Breasley Medal winner (2006-09, 2017)
  • Won 83 races in Melbourne last season to claim 2018-19 jockeys' premiership
  • Notched Cup win on his 15th attempt on Danny O'Brien-trained
  • Famously missed ride on French-trained 2011 winner through suspension
  • Winner of two Caulfield Cups (Southern Speed, Dunaden), two Cox Plates (Fields Of Omagh, Pinker Pinker) and a Golden Slipper (Miss Finland)
  • Williams' Cup victory completes a ‘grand slam' of Australian racing (Golden Slipper, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup)
  • Only eight jockeys have achieved a ‘grand slam': , Roy Higgins, Pat Hyland, Mick Dittman, Jim Cassidy, , and Craig Williams

QUOTES

“It was a privilege to ride him today. Look at him, he knows he's won. I'm so grateful to be given the opportunity. He just gave me a beautiful ride. Danny O'Brien and the owners gave me no instructions. He just said ‘trust the horse'” – Williams

“I remember after the Caulfield Cup when we secured the ride for him in , I said to my wife, we're going to win the Melbourne Cup. I said that when David Redvers spoke to me after Dunaden but I was unfortunately unavailable to ride him that year. Then our biggest worry was, is he (Vow And Declare) going to make the field” – Williams

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