Craig Williams booked for Doncaster ride

Craig Williams will ride Tosen Stardom in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick as long as he passes a concussion test before race day.

Williams, who was knocked unconscious when he fell from stricken horse The Gold Trail after the winning post in Saturday’s Mornington Cup, was initially thought to be ineligible with Victorian stewards requiring a seven-day stand-down before a cognitive test.

But Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said if Williams passed a test this week, he would be able to ride in Sydney on Saturday.

“He won’t have to wait the seven days. As long as he passes the appropriate concussion test by specialists he will be able to ride,” Van Gestel said.

Melbourne’s premier jockey, Williams spent Saturday night in hospital after the fall which happened when international visitor The Gold Trail broke both sesamoids and was subsequently euthanised.

The Darren Weir-trained Australian Bloodstock-owned Tosen Stardom is a $26 chance in the Doncaster ahead of Tuesday’s declaration of the final field and barrier draw.

Tosen Stardom has finished second at both his lead-up runs over 1600m.

He was narrowly beaten by stablemate Black Heart Bart in the Group One Futurity Stakes and by another Weir-trained horse, Palentino, in the Blamey Stakes.

Williams has also been booked for another Australian Bloodstock import Big Duke in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600m).

The favourite for the Sydney Cup, Big Duke has the distinction of being premier Melbourne trainer Weir’s first Sydney winner following his victory on protest in the Manion Cup last Saturday week.

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