Globetrotting jockey Craig Williams has acquired the key ride of Sizzling for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) which will take place at the Gold Coast on January 12.

Craig Williams has picked up the Magic Millions Guineas ride on Sizzling in the absence of regular rider Chris Munce. Photo by: Daniel Costello.

Chris Munce has ridden Queensland’s best three-year-old in all of his 11 career starts to date but the leading Brisbane jockey will miss the Magic Millions Carnival as he is due to begin radiation therapy for throat cancer on January 7.

“I’m devastated to miss the ride,” Munce wrote in his blog.

“He’s my favourite horse and the connections have been great supporters and I wish them well with the colt.”

Munce will be aboard Sizzling in his final Magic Millions lead-up on Saturday in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben where the Kelso Wood-trained colt will start a short-priced favourite after blowing his rivals away in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) on December 15.

The top Queensland jockey is excited about the ride this weekend and is hopeful of being back in the saddle by winter to reunite with the Snitzel colt at the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

“I am very grateful they [connections] are still allowing me to ride Sizzling in the Vo Rogue Plate next Saturday,” he said.

“My goal is to be back riding in time for the winter carnival and reunite with Sizzling there.”

Sizzling, who starred as a two-year-old during an unbeaten Queensland winter campaign, is a $3.20 favourite to win next month’s Magic Millions Guineas.

Next best in the market is Gai Waterhouse-trained filly Driefontein who failed when a $1.15 favourite at Wyong last Thursday while fellow Waterhouse-trained runners Urban Groove ($7) and No Looking Back ($8) occupy the next two lines in betting.