Craig Williams has been snapped up for the mount on a star European import for his Cups carnival assault

Craig Williams has landed himself the chance to deliver a second Melbourne Cup in three years with his booking to handle top European stayer Spanish Mission in his spring campaign.

Craig Williams after winning the 2019 Melbourne Cup on Vow And Declare. Picture: AAP Image–Scott Barbour

Champion jockey Craig Williams will ride Melbourne Cup second favourite Spanish Mission.

News Corp understands the 44-year-old jockey has committed to the star import.

Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission is due to land in Melbourne on Saturday after two weeks’ quarantine at Newmarket.

Spanish Mission surged into Cup calculations after a pulsating battle with Stradivarius over the final 400m of the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3270m) at York.

The Group 1-placed son of Noble Mission has won six of 18 starts.

Williams won the 2019 Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare.

Spanish Mission is the $9 outright second favourite in TAB’s all-in Cup market behind Incentivise ($8).

The five-year-old stallion, set for two weeks quarantine at Werribee, will contest the Caulfield Cup en route to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.

On Tuesday morning Williams also had his first sit on Cox Plate favourite Zaaki in a course proper gallop at Sandown.

Currently Zaaki heads the markets for Australia’s WFA championships with the TAB at $2.50.

He will make his Melbourne debut on Saturday in the Underwood Stakes for which he is a $1.40 ‘all-in’ favourite with acceptances to be taken tomorrow.

Originally published as Craig Williams has been snapped up for the mount on a star European import for his Cups carnival assault