Craig Williams outed but still a fighting chance for Cup

Craig Williams

Craig Williams is seeking lawyer's advice in an effort to ride in the Melbourne Cup

Craig Williams is seeking lawyer’s advice in an effort to ride in Tuesday’s $6m Melbourne Cup (3200m) after losing his appeal against a 10 meeting careless riding suspensiontoday.

Williams, who was in line of becoming the first jockey to win a Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year if successful on French stayer Dunaden, lost his appeal in front of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.

Williams said he had not “given up on my dream to ride Dunaden” in the Cup.

“I haven’t given up hope. It’s still me dream to ride Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup,” Williams said..

“I’m disappointed with the outcome of course.

“My lawyers are going to go away and see if we have any other options.”

Asked if he was considering legal action, Williams replied: “I’m leaving that with my lawyers.

“I’m not sure what my options are, but I have a couple of good legal aids and I’ll wait back to see what options there are.”

Williams, who won the Cox Plate (Pinker Pinker) and Caulfield Cup (Southern Speed), may now take his appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in a bid to get a stay of proceedings so he can ride in the Melbourne Cup.

VCAT is a tribunal which sits below the Magistrates Court in the court hierarchy.

The suspension incurred for careless riding at Bendigo on Wednesday was aboard The Red Emperor and it kicks in after Derby Day and ends at midnight on Tuesday, November 8.

It means Williams will miss Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Emirate Stakes Day, the majority of the Flemington Spring Racing Carnival.

The significant point on whether Williams proceeds with the case is whether the VCAT hearing would be before that Melbourne Cup is run.

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