Glen Boss says Craig Williams’ bold move won the 2019 Melbourne Cup

Craig Williams’ audacious ride on Vow And Declare has been described by Glen Boss as one of the most ‘intelligent’ he has seen in Australia’s greatest race — and he should know as a triple winner.

Triple Melbourne Cup-­winning jockey Glen Boss has ­described Craig Williams’ audacious, inspired ride on Vow And Declare as one of the most “intelligent” he has seen in Australia’s greatest race.

And he said Williams’ ­beaten rivals who whinged post-race about the lack of pace in the Cup had only themselves to blame.

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Williams rode a near-perfect race as he went forward from gate 21, pushing on wide to be leading the first time past the winning post before slotting in perfectly near the fence.

It was the winning move, according to Boss, who piloted the champion mare Makybe Diva to three consecutive Cup ­victories from 2003 to 2005.

“It was one of the most ­intelligent Cup rides I’ve ever seen,” Boss said.

“It was just unbelievable. Jeez, he summed up that race well.

Craig Williams and Vow And Declare lead the field out of the home straight on the first occasion. Picture: Getty Images

“He took control after 100m. He just went out and owned the race from the get-go.”

Much of the post-race discussion centred on the slow tempo as some jockeys ­lamented a lack of pace that didn’t suit their mounts.

Watching from home with his wife Sloane and family, Boss couldn’t believe the lack of initiative Williams’ rivals showed when they had the chance to make a move.

“It was really funny, I was listening to comments … there were 24 jockeys out there, and 23 complained about the lack of speed,” Boss said.

Craig Williams and Vow And Declare (right) claim victory in a thrilling finish.

“I was thinking, ‘Gee, not one of you did one thing about that.’

“When they got to the winning post the first time, I was thinking, ‘They are walking here.’ I was actually looking for someone to do something.

“They never did at any stage. It was a moment lost by all of those jockeys because it means nothing when you come back and say ‘they went too slow’.

“Flemington lends itself to taking chances. But you have to really commit … it comes up very quick and if you don’t commit, you end up out of the ballpark.”

Boss was suspended for this year’s Cup, which cost him the ride on Lindsay Park’s ­Constantinople.

But he knew how good Vow And Declare could be over a staying trip, having ridden the horse to victory in the Tatt’s Cup (3000m) in Queensland in June.

“I really wanted to ride him (this spring),” he said. “But I would have had to ride him in the Caulfield Cup and I was ­already committed to Yes Yes Yes in the Everest.”

The Caulfield Cup ride went to Williams, which locked in his slot for the Melbourne Cup.

The in-form Boss saluted on star colt Yes Yes Yes in the $14 million Everest.

Regardless, he couldn’t be more pleased for Williams.

“I was rapt for Craig to get that one out of the way,” he said. “When you get beaten a few times (in the Cup), it’s tough, and he lost the ride on Dunaden (due to suspension in 2011) which was ironic, because it was my ride before I fell and smashed my shoulder.

“His ride was the difference between that horse winning or losing the race.”

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Originally published as Glen Boss says Craig Williams’ bold move won the 2019 Melbourne Cup