Racing
Williams keeping Premiership options open
Jockey Craig Williams will be keeping a watch on his premiership hopes in Melbourne as the Brisbane Winter Carnival continues.
Champion jockey Craig Williams may delay a planned trip to Ukraine if he is in striking distance of claiming another victory in the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership.
Williams has nine titles to his name, including one he shared with Damien Oliver, and would love to add another to his glittering CV.
Currently Williams trails Blake Shinn, the 2022-23 victor, by 12 wins, but Shinn is currently sidelined with bone bruising to an ankle and could be out for the remainder of the season.
Williams will mix riding in Melbourne and Brisbane in coming weeks while the Group 1 races at Eagle Farm remain in full swing.
Williams rides at Doomben on Wednesday where he has seven rides while there is an eight-race card at Sandown.
Whether Williams rides at the final Group 1 meeting of the season – the Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm on June 28 – will be made in consultation with his manager after they sort through what opportunities may come their way.
The next time Williams rides in Melbourne will be at Mornington on Monday before heading back up to Brisbane for the Stradbroke Handicap meeting at Eagle Farm on June 14.
Williams will then ride at Sandown (June 18) and Flemington (June 21) with Caulfield on June 28 to be determined by offerings of a Tatt's Tiara mount.
Then there are meetings at Sandown on July 2 and Flemington on July 5 after which Williams was planning to take a break where he would be joined by Brisbane-based jockey Andrew Mallyon for a return trip to Ukraine.
Williams said Mallyon was planning on linking up with an ambulance core in Ukraine.
But if Shinn has not returned to the saddle and Williams is closing in on his lead, a delay to that break before spring is likely.
Williams' last premiership victory came in the 2019-20 season.
"All the leading riders all look towards the spring, and you all look at what it takes to get there, but there's no doubt I've always had a focus about the championship," Williams said.
"It's one of those goals that every rider strives to go for and it will come under consideration when my manager and I work out our scheduling for the next period of time."
The Flemington meeting on July 5 is 'Finals Day' and has been a successful one for Williams in his premiership winning years, claiming six wins one year and five on another occasion.
"There were people talking about the premiership at Christmas time when Blake had a holiday and I rode a few winners," Williams said.
"I just want to ride a winner every day I go to the races.
"Blake set himself a goal and has been so committed to that through the whole of Victoria and you can see his success this year.
"I don't feel like I need a break, but everyone keeps saying I do as at the moment I'm just loving what I'm doing.
"I have loved flying into Hong Kong and having success and when you have success you want the next one and the next one.
"I'm really happy where I am at the moment and loving what I'm doing."
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