‘Never been more driven’: Jockey Craig Williams dominates at The Valley with running treble
Champion hoop Craig Williams rode a running treble at The Valley on Saturday and credited his Ukraine humanitarian efforts for a renewed mindset that is bringing huge rewards in the saddle.
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Champion jockey Craig Williams has “never been more driven” in and out of the saddle.
Williams rode an early running treble at The Valley on Saturday with Just For Show, Mytemptation and Fickle victorious in successive races.
The nine-time Melbourne jockeys’ premiership winner will go into 2025 on top of the leaderboard after a white hot December netted 23 winners, including 15 in town.
“I’m happy with where I am at, physically, mentally,” Williams said.
“I’ve never been more driven and I’m really grateful for the opportunity and it’s lovely to ride winners, that’s what we’re here for.”
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Williams has ridden multiple winners in four of the past five metropolitan race cards.
The Melbourne Cup-winner rode in eight races at The Valley on Saturday and then travelled to Cranbourne for two rides.
“My wife and my manager seem to keep me busy, and it seems to work,” Williams said.
“What do they say, idle hands make the devil’s work … maybe that’s the theory behind it.
“I’m doing what I’m doing and I love riding winners.
“It’s nice to ride nice horses and I can’t do it without my team around me … horses presented to me are right for the races, I don’t think my strike rate really changes.
“I think overall my last 15 years I’m one in six, it’s (riding winners) the good part of it (racing) we do have same bad parts.”
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Williams credited Ukraine humanitarian efforts the past 2-½ years for a renewed mindset.
“I’m really enjoying it and I’m really driven,” Williams said, in reference to riding and Ukraine support.
“The experiences we’ve had the last two and half years doing our work in Ukraine makes me appreciate how lucky I am and what we have here and I’m really enjoying going to work.
“We are able to do more (for Ukraine) and we will do more … (riding winners) actually help fund those types of projects so they actually go hand-in-hand.
“It makes you grateful for things I take for granted every day.”
Williams will ride at Flemington on New Year’s Day and then spend the next two Saturdays in Queensland for the Magic Millions Carnival.
The consummate professional and tireless racing ambassador has not looked beyond that.
“I look at every race meeting, I know where I am today and tonight,” Williams said.
“I know I’m riding next Wednesday at Flemington and then Saturday at Magic Millions, that’s what I’m focusing on.”
Williams said the Tom Dabernig-trained Fickle had the potential to graduate to stakes’ company in the New Year.
Fickle makes it three on the bounce & as does @CWilliamsJockey 💥@dabernigracing continues a run of strong recent form. pic.twitter.com/CfUbfUC9S1
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 28, 2024
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The lightly-raced mare has been meticulously placed to win her past three in town.
Fickle was entered for the Listed Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day but was withdrawn due to the hot conditions and wide barrier.
“She’s a game horse, Tom Dabernig and his team have got a really good handle on her and they were confident in this race,” Williams said.
“She’s a dream for a ride, really nice, really effective, she’s just a delight to ride.
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“You can’t put a measurement on horses’ ability when you give them confidence and put them in the right races and that’s what Tom has been able to do with this horse.
“It’s going to be exciting to see what she actually targets because they want black type for her pedigree as well, she’s definitely got the makings for it and she’s developing really well.”
Originally published as ‘Never been more driven’: Jockey Craig Williams dominates at The Valley with running treble
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