Fame Game has been the headline Japanese runner in the 2015 Caulfield Cup field, but jockey Craig Williams believes that Hokko Brave has the talent to beat his rival and win the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Craig Williams believes that Hokko Brave can deliver him another Caulfield Cup victory this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Hokko Brave beat Fame Game in the Group 1 The Tenno Sho (3200m) in Kyoto last year, but Fame Game has since beaten Hokko Brave in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) at Hanshin, the Group 2 Copa Republica Argentina (2500m) and Group 1 The Tenno Sho (3200m).
Williams admits that Fame Game is a better horse than Hokko Brave, but he pointed out that the duo had previously only met at level weights and Hokko Brave will carry one and a half kilos less in the 2015 Caulfield Cup.
“He is a better horse and in their last two races together he has been the better horse, but my horse finished last in the and there was something wrong with my horse,” Williams told Racing World.
“In the Tenno Sho this year Fame Game was a great closer at set weights, but we look at a great closer at set weights and when you look back less than a length and a half back is Hokko Brave, who is going to be better treated at the handicap.”
Williams was locked in to ride Hokko Brave well before the start of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he said that he had no problems making an early commitment to ride the Marvelous Sunday entire in both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
The leading hoop revealed that he has been keen to ride Hokko Brave for over 12 months and he is confident that the seven-year-old is a winning chance in both major events during his stint in Australia.
“After his run last year in the Tenno Sho I tried to ride him then, but he wasn’t coming out and I was disappointed because his run was amazing,” Williams said.
“I was very confident if he brings his best form and because he hasn’t won a Group 1 or a Group 2 he is more favourable at the weights,
“When he is at a mile and a half he is very good.
“If he brings his best form he is the right horse for both races.”
Hokko Brave is currently available at 2015 Caulfield Cup odds of $15 with Ladbrokes, while Fame Game is back into $10 to give Japan their second straight victory in the Group 1 event.
