Jockey Craig Williams moved two wins clear of main rival Dwayne Dunn in the Melbourne jockey’s premiership race with one winner at Caulfield last Saturday.
Jockey Craig Williams, above, is chasing his fifth Melbourne jockey’s premiership title. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Williams was successful on the Darren Weir trained Ulmann in the 1400m Handicap while Dunn failed to ride a winner from eight rides on the nine event program.
Williams now sits on 66 wins, two ahead of Dunn on 64 with the end of the 2015 – 2016 racing season quickly approaching on July 31.
While Dunn is chasing his first Melbourne premiership, Williams is closing in on his fifth and he has the momentum in his favour after ridding five winners; at Flemington last Saturday week followed by a winning double at Moonee Valley last Wednesday.
Williams was relieved to get the major prize on the Darren Weir trained Ulmann after getting beaten on stablemate Bondeiger earlier in the day.
Weir was quick to point out that Williams had erred on Bondeiger when being interviewd after Ulmann’s win.
“He definitely owed us that one – he stuffed up the race before,” Weir said.
“He should’ve just come out when he went in, but he came back and admitted it so that’s the main thing.
“He made sure he was coming out in that one and rode it very well, the horse went great.”
Weir said that Ulmann doesn’t show a lot on the tracks but keeps his best form for race day.
“I didn’t have any great plans for him the way he is at home, but when you go back through his form he’s obviously a talented galloper,” Weir said.
“I guess we’ll have to look for something in the spring hopefully.”
While Williams was impressed with the win of Ulmann, he is keen to make amends on Bondeiger in two weeks time.
“I don’t think it made up for it – I’d like to have that ride (on Bondeiger) again and fortunately for me, I will in two weeks,” Williams said.
“(Ulmann’s) form on paper was much superior to anything in the race, he’s run behind Winx, he’s run behind Malaguerra, Fell Swoop – he’s got seriously strong form around him.
“I like the way he won… that should give him the world of confidence.”
