Latest news with #MelbournePremiership
The Australian
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Jockey Craig Williams suspended but still chasing premiership
Champion jockey Craig Williams has zeroed in on the pursuit of a 10th Melbourne premiership. Williams started a 14-day careless riding suspension on Sunday but has 58 races across seven city meetings next month to wipe an eight-win deficit on sidelined premiership leader Blake Shinn (foot). 'I want to win a championship so I'm working hard, I'll be at all the tracks,' Williams said. 'I was very saddened by that (suspension) but that's the rules of racing … I just have to work harder.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! If successful in the premiership race, Williams could join Damien Oliver on 10 premierships. Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan share the record with 11 Melbourne titles. Shinn, stranded on 67 city winners, was poised to win his second premiership in three seasons and third overall before an untimely foot injury last month. Williams moved to 59 winners last Saturday with a double at Flemington. • 'Huge team effort': Paynes revel in landmark four-timer 'It's been a great season, won five Group 1s, The Everest, I've won a Hong Kong Derby,' Williams said. 'It's been an amazing season and when we're in the position that we are, and we're only in this position because of Blake Shinn's unfortunate injury … he's very dominant. 'This is really special to us (premierships) but again it's a goal, nothing better than … having goals and challenges, you turn up, you know what you want to do. 'It doesn't matter what the weather is, what the horses are, we try and get the best out of them to hopefully be lucky enough to win 10 championships.' • 'Zachariah The Electrifier': The jockey targeting darts glory Williams has pushed back a planned humanitarian aid mission to Ukraine to pursue the premiership. 'It's important, the work we do here, 10 per cent goes to Ukraine,' Williams said. 'My wife is helping me try and win the championship and once we get the next eight (winners) we'll go to Ukraine and deliver the humanitarian aid.' Williams rode Taken and the most impressive She's An Artist to victory last Saturday at Flemington. She's An Artist, trained by Ciaron Maher, 'broke them' in slick time – fastest sectionals on the card in the last race – at only her second start and first time down the Flemington straight. 'She felt like everything we hoped she was going to be,' Williams said. 'The exciting part is she's only going to get better … all going well, like we always need, she's a really untapped, high potential filly.' She's An Artist is set for the Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 5 at Flemington. Williams is eligible to return to the saddle on July 6, with a midweek meeting at Sandown on July 9 his next opportunity to build on his metropolitan winners' tally. Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I just have to work harder': Suspension no hindrance as champion jockey Craig Williams zeros in on premiership race
Champion jockey Craig Williams has zeroed in on the pursuit of a 10th Melbourne premiership. Williams started a 14-day careless riding suspension on Sunday but has 58 races across seven city meetings next month to wipe an eight-win deficit on sidelined premiership leader Blake Shinn (foot). 'I want to win a championship so I'm working hard, I'll be at all the tracks,' Williams said. 'I was very saddened by that (suspension) but that's the rules of racing … I just have to work harder.' If successful in the premiership race, Williams could join Damien Oliver on 10 premierships. Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan share the record with 11 Melbourne titles. Shinn, stranded on 67 city winners, was poised to win his second premiership in three seasons and third overall before an untimely foot injury last month. Williams moved to 59 winners last Saturday with a double at Flemington. She's An Artist shares a resemblance to a certain sprinter & she might share some of that ability... ðŸ'©â€�🎨 The bald-faced filly trounces her opposition under hands & heals. @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 • 'It's been a great season, won five Group 1 s, The Everest, I've won a Hong Kong Derby,' Williams said. 'It's been an amazing season and when we're in the position that we are, and we're only in this position because of Blake Shinn's unfortunate injury … he's very dominant. 'This is really special to us (premierships) but again it's a goal, nothing better than … having goals and challenges, you turn up, you know what you want to do. 'It doesn't matter what the weather is, what the horses are, we try and get the best out of them to hopefully be lucky enough to win 10 championships.' ðŸ�‡ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡°ðŸ‡°ðŸ‡¦ Hello everyone, Larysa and I would like to share our latest Ukraine update in 2024. Once again, we want to thank everyone for their ongoing support. If you would like to contribute, go to my website Full video - — Craig Williams (@CWilliamsJockey) October 24, 2024 Williams has pushed back a planned humanitarian aid mission to Ukraine to pursue the premiership. 'It's important, the work we do here, 10 per cent goes to Ukraine,' Williams said. 'My wife is helping me try and win the championship and once we get the next eight (winners) we'll go to Ukraine and deliver the humanitarian aid.' Williams rode Taken and the most impressive She's An Artist to victory last Saturday at Flemington. She's An Artist, trained by Ciaron Maher, 'broke them' in slick time – fastest sectionals on the card in the last race – at only her second start and first time down the Flemington straight. 🎨 She’s An Artist paints the perfect finish in the last! @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) June 21, 2025 'She felt like everything we hoped she was going to be,' Williams said. 'The exciting part is she's only going to get better … all going well, like we always need, she's a really untapped, high potential filly.' She's An Artist is set for the Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 5 at Flemington. Williams is eligible to return to the saddle on July 6, with a midweek meeting at Sandown on July 9 his next opportunity to build on his metropolitan winners' tally.
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Craig Williams prioritises Queensland carnival Group 1s over Melbourne premiership chase
Champion jockey Craig Williams has declared any pursuit of a 10th Melbourne premiership would not be at the expense of current Queensland winter carnival commitments. Williams has key rides in Brisbane on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, with Group 1 bids on Let's Fly (Queensland Oaks), Kimochi (Kingsford Smith Cup) and Party Crasher (Queensland Derby). The 82-time Group 1 winner is likely to ride in Queensland for up to three of the next four Saturdays, with Tatt's Tiara options yet to be locked down. Williams, who has seven mounts at Doomben on Wednesday, including Spicy Martini in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic, a Stradbroke Handicap qualifier, has ridden 55 winners in Melbourne this season. His next opportunity to eat into a 12-win deficit on champion jockey Blake Shinn is King's Birthday Monday at Mornington. 'I've got a mother, I've got a wife (and) I've got a manager, three people that (tell me where to go),' Williams said. 'I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I had a bit of time off with a suspension recently, and I'm happy to ride wherever he (manager) gets me to ride. 'We always look forward to the (Melbourne premiership race) and I guess now we're in a position where it's definitely a realistic goal, but again, my manager tells me where to go.' • Gelagotis camp taking up the fight to MND Shinn, stuck on 67 winners, was poised to claim a second Melbourne premiership in three seasons – third overall – before an injury setback (foot) last week at Cranbourne jumpouts. Williams has eight weeks officially to surpass Shinn but the nine-time champion jockey had only planned to ride through to July 5 – Flemington Finals Race Day – before a short break. The last Melbourne metro meeting for the 2024-25 season is July 30 at Sandown. Williams is slated to return to Ukraine next month on another humanitarian aid mission. Williams and Ukrainian-born wife Larysa the past three years led campaigns to raise more than $2m, primarily for first aid and medical supplies, to support the war against Russia. The 48-year-old conceded the lure of another premiership loomed large, at least for the next month. 'There's no doubt, I've always had a focus point about the championship,' Williams said. 'It's one of those goals every rider strives to go for … obviously it's going to be a consideration when my manager and I work out our schedule for the next period of time. 'I'm really happy where I'm at, at the moment, and I'm loving what I'm doing, so my manager says 'Craig you're going here' then I'm turning up, whatever the weather, I'm happy to be there.' The late Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan won a record 11 Victorian metropolitan premierships apiece, while legendary jockey Damien Oliver retired with 10 titles under the belt. Williams last topped the Melbourne premiership table in 2020.
