‘Very lucky’ jockey Craig Williams escapes serious injury at Sunshine Coast, fit to ride at 2025 Gold Coast Magic Millions

Star Melbourne jockey Craig Williams will be fit to ride at Saturday’s rich Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting despite an ankle injury that forced him to stand down from rides at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Craig Williams will be fit to ride at the Magic Millions on Saturday despite a injuring his ankle at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

Star Melbourne jockey Craig Williams has dodged serious injury after a barrier incident at the Sunshine Coast and is expected to be fit to ride at Saturday’s rich Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting.

The Melbourne Cup and The Everest-winning jockey was rushed for medical scans after his left ankle blew up like a balloon after an incident at the barriers at the Gold Coast meeting that was transferred to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

On Sunday, Williams told Racenet he was “very lucky” and it was simply “an old style ankle sprain”.

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Williams is set to ride one of the leading fancies in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic next Saturday in Queensland youngster La Bella Boom.

Before hurting his ankle on Saturday, Williams qualified the Tony Gollan-trained filly for the $3m 2YO Classic when the filly won the Gold Pearl in impressive fashion.

What a win!
LA BELLA BOOM storms home for a dominant win in the 2YO Gold Pearl, right on song for next week's 2YO @mmsnippets!@CWilliamsJockey | @tonygollanpic.twitter.com/bmEnh0z3Ua

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

Bookmakers were impressed by La Bella Boom’s slashing win and cut her odds from $26 to $9 in the Magic Millions.

Gollan’s great mate, champion Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher, is one of the owners of La Bella Boom.

Maher was involved in La Bella Boom as a weanling and stayed in the ownership after Gollan purchased the filly for $300,000 at last year’s Magic Millions sale.

'I DON'T CARE, AS LONG AS THEY WIN!'@cmaherracing Maher has the Magic Millions favourite but is in the quirky spot of cheering another horse after a @tonygollan-trained filly he part owns surged into next Saturday’s rich race. Story: @bendorries76👇https://t.co/Msl5gOPmhb

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) January 4, 2025

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Meanwhile, champion Brisbane rider Jimmy Orman will be back in action this week after suffering a gruesome injury when a horse bit off part of his finger.

Orman hasn’t ridden since December 8 but will return at the Eagle Farm midweek meeting on Wednesday and is expected to be fine for Magic Millions day.

Originally published as ‘Very lucky’ jockey Craig Williams escapes serious injury at Sunshine Coast, fit to ride at 2025 Gold Coast Magic Millions