Is Craig Williams gearing up for a profitable spring for punters?
JOCKEY Craig Williams has come under heavy scrutiny over the past few weeks for his butchering of some high-profile rides, but is he about to hit top gear at the right time?
Williams has a plum book of rides at Moonee Valley on Friday night and it got off to a good start with the aptly-named Dodging Bullets in the opener.
Dodging Bullets started as the $2.10 favourite after a late push came for the six-year-old. Bookmakers also noted a big push for Williams in the jockeys’ challenge, which means punters might be forgiving the international rider.
Williams was the clear $1.75 favourite at CrownBet.com.au to win the jockeys’ challenge at Moonee Valley, which should silence some critics, but we’ve taken a look at his recent form to see whether the criticism is justified.
He has now ridden four winners from his last 28 starts, which isn’t up to his usual standard and some of those defeats have come on high-profile thoroughbreds.
His ride on Amelie’s Star in the Caulfield Cup was a real head scratcher. Amelie’s Star is a noted back marker, but Williams pushed forward on the lightly-framed mare and run it into the ground.
It did well to finish 11th all things considering, but the critics were quickly to blame Williams for its effort.
Things didn’t improve this week for Williams, who was riding hot-favourite Ubin Thunderstuck at Geelong. The quality stayer had been backed off the map late in the betting and everything looked cosy in the run for punters, but the horse got “willowed”.
“Willowed” is a term punters quickly hung on Williams after his ride on Ubin Thunderstruck. The stayer was travelling sweetly in the run, but Williams somehow pocketed the favourite in the small field and punters did their dough.
Before his win at Moonee Valley on Friday night, Williams hadn’t finished better than fourth in his last six starts and punters were getting seriously worried heading into an important Melbourne Cup carnival, but it could all change.
The senior rider went through similar struggles to start the carnival last season and he rebounded nicely. Given his wonderful book of rides over the next two days, we’re expecting Williams to show why he’s a noted international-quality rider.
Williams commented following the MSC Signs Handicap where he gave Dodging Bullets the perfect ride in transit.
“He gave me a great ride and the team has done a great job with him,” Williams said. “He really wanted to win today.
“We thought we’d keep it simple stupid so we came wide in the straight.”
Williams has many top rides to come this weekend, which includes Vega Magic ($2 at Neds.com.au) in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes later tonight.
Update* Williams would later score his second win of the night aboard Carraig Aonair.
“Two from two, and actually I thought I could nearly win the first three races but unfortunately my horse in race three was a late scratching so I have to sit the third,” said Williams, following his second win of the night.
“I was really confident I had nice, strong horses in the first couple of races, but they had to deliver.
“Luckily for me the trainers had done a great job getting them ready for tonight, they’ve got them primed and they’ve come on from their last runs and most importantly the horses delivered.
“It’s a great way to start off the Moonee Valley two days.”
Manikato Stakes betting
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