Craig Williams relishing ‘hunter’ role in Melbourne jockeys’ premiership battle with Blake Shinn

Craig Williams won’t give up on the Melbourne jockeys’ title without a fight as he cut Blake Shinn’s lead with a treble at Flemington.

Craig Williams returns to scale after winning on Losesomewinmore in the last race at Flemington to complete a treble. Picture: Getty Images

Champion jockey Craig Williams clawed back to within five winners of Melbourne premiership leader Blake Shinn with a Flemington treble.

Williams bookended the card on Saturday with the first winner – Duchess Zou – then piloted home the last two – Sayedaty Sadaty and Losesomewinmore.

Shinn moved to 71 on Saturday with one winner at Flemington – La Fracas.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

There are 25 metropolitan races left in the season.

“Blake is an amazing rider, a great friend of mine too,” Williams said.

“Even when we talked today going out for the last race I said ‘mate, you’re killing me’.

“He’s like the Road Runner, I get close to him and beep, beep and he’s off again.”

Williams is determined to try and win his 10th Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.

“I love hunting,” Williams said.

“I need to hunt, Blake is unbelievable.”

LOSESOMEWINMORE 💰💰

Craig Williams has done it again! Another Saturday treble and he's back within five wins of Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockey's Premiership with three Metropolitan meetings left 😬😬

The 🏆 is still well and truly up for grabs!@CWilliamsJockeypic.twitter.com/oOsDm9759k

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025

• ‘Exciting future’: Hayes smiling after colt makes winning return

Sayedaty Sadaty sealed back-to-back wins to reignite spring ambitions.

A combination of gelding, more time to acclimatise and placement to advantage has helped the former international, trained by Ciaron Maher, start to repay connections on the racetrack.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Sayedaty Sadaty could race again at 2000m next month before attention turned to bigger prizes.

“I’d say we’re one more at (2000m) if the boss wants to go (2400m), we know he can stay,” Turnbull said.

“It’s now probably picking the perfect path into spring trying to get him qualified (for Cups), if he’s good enough, we can work backwards.”

Charterhouse, also trained by Maher, placed third in the 2000m Open Handicap while stablemates Kettle Hill (ninth), Wyclif (13th) and Relentless Voyager (15th) raced “well from where they were”.

Sayedaty Sadaty is settling into life in Australia beautifully!

He makes it two in a row and gives @CWilliamsJockey a double, he's back within six wins of Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockeys Premiership!@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/F2FoXvNswJ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025

• Rose eases Prebble’s worries in Rising Stars final

Duchess Zou capped a brilliant first racing campaign with her third success in five starts.

The Maher-trained filly overhauled Lario in the 1400m 3YO Open Handicap and held a comfortable margin on late-finisher Legacy Bay.

Maher said Duchess Zou, who placed third in the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) the start before, would benefit from a short break.

“She’ll have to get through the grades a little bit (next season), she’s obviously on the right path,” Maher said.

“It’s a winter race she was expected to win and done it quite well … in a couple months’ time, she’ll lift again.”

Craig strikes back!

He gets back within six wins of Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockeys Premiership as the favourite Duchess Zou win stylishly 👏👏@[e-mail]/Rru6L9aaxl

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025

• Derby path looms for Busuttin-Young stayer

Co-trainer Michael Kent Jr hailed Shinn’s initiative as the catalyst for La Fracas completing a hat-trick of wins in the Benchmark 84 sprint (1200m).

La Fracas had easily won on heavy tracks at his previous two starts but found himself on firmer going and jumping from the awkward barrier one in the Flemington straight contest.

However, Shinn’s manoeuvring got La Fracas ($2.40 fav) into the right part of the track from where he finished hard to grab De Bergerac ($5) on the line.

“Midrace, he made a daring move to attach himself to the back of (stablemate) Moby Dick, who he assumed would take him forward into the race,” Kent Jr, who trains La Fracas in partnership with Mick Price, said.

“That was the winning move.”

LA FRACAS âš¡âš¡

A huge last to first win for the favourite in some familiar fast finishing colours 😉

Blake Shinn extends his lead back to seven over Craig Williams!@[e-mail]/cZTgR9Pxab

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025

– with Brad Waters

Originally published as Craig Williams relishing ‘hunter’ role in Melbourne jockeys’ premiership battle with Blake Shinn