Jim Mason reunites with Craig Williams as remarkable comeback story continues in $3m Magic Millions Guineas

Caulfield Cup-winning trainer Jim Mason has turned to superstar jockey Craig Williams as he chases Magic Millions joy in his incredible return to racing.

Superstar jockey Craig Williams has been a go-to man for Caulfield Cup-winning trainer Jim Mason before and now the duo will combine to attempt to create a remarkable racing comeback story.

Mason’s rollercoaster racing journey from winning the 1996 Caulfield Cup with Arctic Scent, to bankruptcy and back again takes some beating.

Only six weeks since having his first runner back from a long break from training – now returning to be the private trainer for Mike Sherrin on the Sunshine Coast – the former Victorian has Street Chase in the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

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The $3m Guineas is worth three times as much as when he won the Caulfield Cup which was a $1m race in 1996, when Mason was training for big-time owner David Moodie.

Street Chase is a $15 chance in the Guineas, last seen when finishing a tough runner-up in the Vo Rogue Plate when only run down by a remarkable last-to-first surge from Give Me Space.

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“Willo (Craig Williams) has ridden for me for an eternity and when I told him I was moving up to Queensland, he said to give him a bell if I got a good horse,” Mason said.

“So I spoke to him before the Vo Rogue Plate and told him to watch Street Chase and I told him the ride was available in the Guineas.

Street Chase won the Pierata Plate on a heavy track. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“His manager texted me the next morning and said he was keen for the ride.

“In the Vo Rogue, this horse did all the donkey work and just got swallowed up late in his first try beyond 1200 (m).

“The pace they were going at he was entitled to fold, the winner was exceptional but was also out the back doing no work.”

There is the prospect of a rain-affected Gold Coast track, given varying forecasts of between six and 40m of rain for the Gold Coast on Saturday.

But Mason said Street Chase can handle any track conditions – he proved he was adept in the wet when winning the Pierata Plate on a Heavy 10 Doomben track in November.

Give Me Space gets space and FLIES home to win the Group 3 Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate for trainer Barry Lockwood! pic.twitter.com/vVSwb39RJd

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

“If I hadn’t have raced him that day, I wouldn’t have known he handled the heavy so I am glad I did run him,” Mason said.

“Before I started training this horse, he had the reputation that he really could gallop but seeing is believing.

“I think he might be a really serious horse.

“I’ve been through a bit in my life and my career in racing, but I’m just lucky now to be able to be in the position to have a horse like this going into a $3m race.

“I haven’t been up here long but I think if we win this race, you can definitely call me a Queenslander.”

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On Friday morning, all horses were vetted clear to take their places in the 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas.

It means Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained colt Space Rider ($7.50) will not get a run unless there is a late scratching drama.

Originally published as Jim Mason reunites with Craig Williams as remarkable comeback story continues in $3m Magic Millions Guineas