Craig Williams unfazed by wide barrier as he plots Ballarat Cup victory with Kingswood
Craig Williams has no concerns about a wide barrier for Saint George in the Ballarat Cup and believes the European import has a crucial advantage over his rivals.
Champion jockey Craig Williams is unperturbed by the widest barrier in Saturday’s Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) for talented Saint George.
Saint George, trained by Ciaron Maher, placed second to Kingswood last start at Flemington in the Listed Cup Day Plate (1800m).
“Ciaron has got him going really well,” Williams said.
“Prepped him through the Seymour Cup (second), Ethan (Brown) rode him super from a wide draw (that day) and he had a great acceleration.
“Then he ran second at Flemington behind a really good horse (Kingswood) and we haven’t seen it yet to frank the form.
“They keep spacing (Saint George’s) runs and he’s going extremely well for Saturday’s Ballarat Cup.”
Kingswood replaced early favourite Saint George in a jammed Ballarat Cup market on Friday, with Air Assault and Poison Chalice among the main challengers.
Air Assault, Poison Chalice and Kingswood drew barriers one, four and six respectively.
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Saint George has barrier 15 to navigate, one outside the reigning Ballarat Cup winner Berkeley Square.
Williams rode Saint George in trackwork last Monday for the first time to get a feel for the grey galloper, not one for selfies as it turned out to be.
“I was getting some nice images, just the two of us, like a couple on a first date,” Williams said.
“He tried to bite me!
“I said to him, no use trying to chew me, I don’t have enough meat on my bones.”
Williams, who won the 2007 Ballarat Cup on Sentire, trained by the late Robbie Laing, said early speed in the race would help Saint George.
“The start of the race is quite unusual,” Williams said.
“It’s a downhill gallop with undulations, only until you get to the 1400m it actually starts becoming that big beautiful track.
“The first 600m from the 2000m start at Ballarat is quite unusual … he’s a European horse, he would’ve seen those (undulations before).
“So that will help because it is quite unusual for (Australian) horses to be galloping downhill with a bit of undulation to the 1400m mark.”
Beware the grey âš¡ï¸
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 4, 2025
KINGSWOOD comes from the back to take out the Kirin Ichiban Plate.
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Williams has eight rides at Ballarat including favourite Carbonados in the Tonks Plate (1100m) and Emerging Stars (1400m) hopeful Ten Warriors.
Saint George or Detonator Jack, an $11 chance, could deliver champion trainer Maher his first Ballarat Cup on Saturday.
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Poison Chalice, trained by Paul Preusker, has been backed $10 into $7 since the market opened last Wednesday.
Poison Chalice, placed fourth in the Ballarat Cup last year, led the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) last Saturday at Caulfield but faded out of contention in the straight.
Poison Chalice will race with a nearside winker on for the first time with blinkers removed after last Saturday’s plain performance.
Preusker won the 2023 Ballarat Cup with Captain Envious.
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McEvoy fields select Ballarat team
Melbourne Cup winner Tony McEvoy has only a small but select team set for Ballarat on Saturday.
Wrigley Field could open the account in the first, a 1400m 3YO Handicap.
Steel Move has raced consistently without a win towards the VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1200m).
Rue De Royale is first-up, now as a gelding, in an 1100m Benchmark 74.
McEvoy, who trains in partnership with son Calvin, has Cavity Bay in a 2000m Benchmark 84 late on the card, should Ballarat dodge the rain.
“Wrigley Field is a progressive young horse in the first,” McEvoy said.
“I like him … won two of three and probably a bit stiff not to win the other.
“I’ve put a set of blinkers on him, he’s telling me he’s a Saturday horse and he gets his chance.”
Wrigley Field is $6.50 in a competitive seven-horse field behind favourite Maldini ($2.40).
Rue De Royale has the class and speed to contend on Saturday despite not being “screwed down” fitness wise yet.
“He trialled up in a really hot trial the other day and he trialled up good,” McEvoy said.
“He’s not screwed down … but it’s 1100m fresh, so I think he’s forward enough. I hope he’s forward enough, but he’ll run super.”
Consistent performer Rue De Royale has amassed about $900,000 in prizemoney with one win and eight places from 18 starts to date.
“We’ve chased the money, we placed him really aggressively,” McEvoy said.
“We’ve gone for all those big money races and he’s run really well in them, then of course you pay the price, with weight.
“This prep we’ll place him nicely and try and get him winning a few because he’s a pretty handy horse.”
McEvoy and connections agreed to geld Rue De Royale to sharpen his race-day focus.
“He was actually all right at home as a colt,” McEvoy said.
“But we thought in his races he was not as brave as he could be.”
McEvoy celebrated the wedding of son and co-trainer Calvin last Sunday in South Australia.
“It was a real party, the kids had a lot of fun,” McEvoy said.
“It was bloody good. I loved it.”
Originally published as Craig Williams unfazed by wide barrier as he plots Ballarat Cup victory with Kingswood
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