One of Australia’s most successful jockeys with more than 2,300 winners to his name answers the questions
Craig Williams is one of Australia’s best-known and most successful jockeys, having been at the top for two decades.
Now aged 45, the Melbourne-based rider has more than 2,300 winners to his name, numbering the 2019 Melbourne Cup on Vow And Declare among 68 G1 wins. He also has two successes in both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.
Williams won the Dewhurst on Tobougg during a stint in the UK-based with Mick Channon. This year he captured the A$14 million ($9.47m) Everest for the first time on Giga Kick, a year in which he visited Ukraine, with his Ukrainian-born wife Larysa and family, to deliver humanitarian aid to the country.
Which racing figure, past or present, do you most admire?
Through my career as a young aspiring wannabe jockey I always wanted to be the best there was at the time. At that time in Australia there was Mick Dittman.
But as soon as I started to ride I actually started looking towards Europe so I always loved Frankie Dettori, Cash Asmussen, Olivier Peslier. They were my pin-up riders when I was lucky enough to go to Europe.
Then I realised how important the Australian role models were who have gone before me, such as Scobie Breasley, Bill Williamson, Ron Hutchinson. They paved the way for me to get an opportunity to ride in Europe which was always my dream.
Which is your favourite venue and which is your favourite race?
It’s hard to nominate one but it would have to be our Melbourne Spring Carnival and the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. When you are born into a racing family the dream is to win the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. I was lucky enough to do it in 2019 on Vow And Declare.
But until this year I didn’t realise how big, and quickly, the Everest has kicked on after only five runnings and I won it this year on Giga Kick.
I love all the carnivals. I have been lucky enough to travel internationally and realise they all have unique purposes. There is no bigger thrill than having the opportunity to win a big race in front of huge crowds. The bigger the fan base the more exciting it is to win in front of them. To do that you have to be on an extraordinary horse.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
I grew up looking at a horse called Vo Rogue when I was a kid. He would make all the running and break them. When I started looking to go to England I saw horses like Frankel. I got to see him at Ascot and he was an amazing horse.
I raced against Giant’s Causeway and saw how tough and courageous he was. Sea The Stars was a freak but I only watched him on a computer screen. When I went to Japan I saw horses like Vodka, and Deep Impact was an amazing racehorse as well.
In Australia we have been so lucky to have Black Caviar and Winx. Of those I have ridden, one of the great horses has been Dunaden. I won a Hong Kong International Race on him and got to build a relationship with Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. For the future I think Giga Kick is a star in the making.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Away from the Melbourne Cup and the Everest, there are three! When I was a kid I won the Cranbourne Cup on a horse who was trained by my father, owned by my mother and it was my home town. I was still at school and it was quite amazing to be put on a pedestal at that age.
When I won the Dewhurst Stakes in England I had my father there too so it was unbelievable to win a G1 a world away from Australia.
Then my wife owned a horse called Demonstrate that she purchased. It was trained by my father and brother, raced in her colours and it won on Super Saturday at Flemington. That was absolutely priceless.
If you could change one thing in racing what would it be?
If I’m looking from an Australian perspective as a jockey, then we are extremely lucky to be riding in Australia at the moment. We have good quality horses, huge prize-money, the welfare of the equine is number one and horse and rider safety is prioritised.
With the amount of engagement we get from racing fans and the support from government, there is nothing I would want to change from the perspective of an Australian jockey riding in Australia.
If I could change anything it won’t be in racing, it would be stopping the war in Ukraine.
Craig Williams was speaking to Jon Lees
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