Craig Williams could be the first jockey to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year
Piping hot jockey Craig Williams could become the first jockey in history to win the Melbourne Racing Spring Carnival Group 1 triple crown in the same year if he wins Tuesday week’s $6 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Dunaden.
On Saturday, Williams became just the sixth jockey after George Young, Bill Duncan, Scobie Breasley, Harold Badger and Jim Johnson to have won the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate in the same season.
Williams won the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed and Saturday’s Cox Plate on Pinker Pinker, with rides that were instrumental in getting those mounts over the line.
Sandwiched between those victories was his win in the Geelong Cup on Dunaden who is now second favourite for the Melbourne Cup behind fellow Gallic Americain.
Williams says Dunaden has done well since the Geelong Cup.
“He’s in with a great chance but there are horses we haven’t even seen yet,” Williams said.
“Jukebox Jury has beaten both Dunaden and Americain.
“I follow the form over there (in Europe) and Modun is a very good horse and so is Mark Johnston’s second runner Fox Hunt.
“Every week we seem to have a new horse to beat.
“ I’m just saying I don’t think we’ve seen all the top chances yet.”
Williams is fasting to lose a kilo to ride Mosheen in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m), a three-year-old filly with 49kg .
He rides Tasmanian Dream Pedlar in Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup – before Derby Day.
On Victoria Derby day Williams will also ride Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed in the $1m Group I Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), and top three-year-old Masthead in the $1m Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Dowager Queen in the Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) prior to the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks on November 6.
John Moore’s Melbourne Cup dream is over for this year with the trainer sending Mighty High home to Hong Kong along with stablemate Silver Grecian who was unplaced in Saturday’s Crystal Mile.
That frees Darren Beadman to ride the Cummings-trained $31 chance Precedence in the Cup.
