Latest news with #Craig Williams
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Blake Shinn moves closer to Melbourne jockeys' premiership with double at Sandown
Champion jockey Blake Shinn all but sealed the Melbourne premiership with a double at Sandown. Shinn improved to a seven-win buffer on Craig Williams with victories aboard Cinematic Star and Betwitchery on Wednesday. 'It was a good to ride a double,' Shinn said. 'Definitely not out of the woods yet. 'We'll get over Saturday and see where we sit but seven is a nice buffer to have into Saturday. 'We've got the utmost respect for Craig and the jockey he is … we've both got strong books.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Shinn and Williams boast full books of nine evenly-matched rides apiece on Saturday at Caulfield. The metropolitan season rounds out at Sandown next Wednesday with an eight-race card. Shinn missed a potential third winner on Wednesday, elected to ride eventual third-placed Shinjina for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman instead of Tiz Worthy, co-trained by partner Lucy Yeomans. 'I did offer him the ride on my horse and he didn't want it!' Yeomans laughed. 'They're working very hard, him and his manager (Liam Prior), it's good for the sport.' Sandown Race 4 | Cinematic Star "It's another one for @blake_shinn!" Cinematic Star explodes along the inside running rail under the Metro Jockey Premiership leaders' hands & heels â�ï¸� ðŸ'° Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app REPLAYS: â€' (@Racing) July 23, 2025 Williams, a nine-time premiership winner, was denied by the barest margin in the first at Sandown. Four scratchings on the card blunted any potential Williams charge on Wednesday. Shinn missed six weeks with a foot injury but returned two weeks ago to defend the premiership – his second Melbourne title potentially in three seasons and third overall. The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey also won the Sydney metropolitan title in 2007/08. Shinn nailed the brief on Ciaron Maher-trained Cinematic Star on Wednesday, stalked the speed and scraped the rail to win without going around a horse. 'Good to see Blake get the win,' assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. 'Push the boat out a bit further on Craig.' Sandown Race 6 | Betwitchery Betwitchery clings on the lead throughout in a thrilling final furlong ðŸ'° That's a double for @blake_shinn! ðŸ'° Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app REPLAYS: â€' (@Racing) July 23, 2025 Shinn dictated the 1400m Fillies Benchmark 64 aboard Betwitchery and survived a late charge and lunge from Chocolate Box on the post. The result vindicated Shinn, who lobbied hard trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin for the ride and race placement. 'Well done to my agent Liam Prior, thanks to Troy and Will and Leon for entrusting us,' Shinn said. 'It's nice when a plan comes together … (Corstens-Larkin) been one of my biggest supporters when relocating back to Melbourne and nice to repay them with a winner here today. 'She looked well placed coming back to Saturday grade.' Shinn is riding Apache Song Kin in the feature sprint.
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Craig Williams relishing ‘hunter' role in Melbourne jockeys' premiership battle with Blake Shinn
Champion jockey Craig Williams clawed back to within five winners of Melbourne premiership leader Blake Shinn with a Flemington treble. Williams bookended the card on Saturday with the first winner – Duchess Zou – then piloted home the last two – Sayedaty Sadaty and Losesomewinmore. Shinn moved to 71 on Saturday with one winner at Flemington – La Fracas. There are 25 metropolitan races left in the season. 'Blake is an amazing rider, a great friend of mine too,' Williams said. 'Even when we talked today going out for the last race I said 'mate, you're killing me'. 'He's like the Road Runner, I get close to him and beep, beep and he's off again.' Williams is determined to try and win his 10th Melbourne jockeys' premiership. 'I love hunting,' Williams said. 'I need to hunt, Blake is unbelievable.' LOSESOMEWINMORE ðŸ'°ðŸ'° Craig Williams has done it again! Another Saturday treble and he's back within five wins of Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockey's Premiership with three Metropolitan meetings left 😬😬 The ðŸ�† is still well and truly up for grabs! @CWilliamsJockey â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025 • Sayedaty Sadaty sealed back-to-back wins to reignite spring ambitions. A combination of gelding, more time to acclimatise and placement to advantage has helped the former international, trained by Ciaron Maher, start to repay connections on the racetrack. Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Sayedaty Sadaty could race again at 2000m next month before attention turned to bigger prizes. 'I'd say we're one more at (2000m) if the boss wants to go (2400m), we know he can stay,' Turnbull said. 'It's now probably picking the perfect path into spring trying to get him qualified (for Cups), if he's good enough, we can work backwards.' Charterhouse, also trained by Maher, placed third in the 2000m Open Handicap while stablemates Kettle Hill (ninth), Wyclif (13th) and Relentless Voyager (15th) raced 'well from where they were'. Sayedaty Sadaty is settling into life in Australia beautifully! He makes it two in a row and gives @CWilliamsJockey a double, he's back within six wins of Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockeys Premiership! @cmaherracing â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025 • Rose eases Prebble's worries in Rising Stars final Duchess Zou capped a brilliant first racing campaign with her third success in five starts. The Maher-trained filly overhauled Lario in the 1400m 3YO Open Handicap and held a comfortable margin on late-finisher Legacy Bay. Maher said Duchess Zou, who placed third in the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) the start before, would benefit from a short break. 'She'll have to get through the grades a little bit (next season), she's obviously on the right path,' Maher said. 'It's a winter race she was expected to win and done it quite well … in a couple months' time, she'll lift again.' Craig strikes back! He gets back within six wins of Blake Shinn in the Melbourne Jockeys Premiership as the favourite Duchess Zou win stylishly ðŸ'�ðŸ'� @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025 • Derby path looms for Busuttin-Young stayer Co-trainer Michael Kent Jr hailed Shinn's initiative as the catalyst for La Fracas completing a hat-trick of wins in the Benchmark 84 sprint (1200m). La Fracas had easily won on heavy tracks at his previous two starts but found himself on firmer going and jumping from the awkward barrier one in the Flemington straight contest. However, Shinn's manoeuvring got La Fracas ($2.40 fav) into the right part of the track from where he finished hard to grab De Bergerac ($5) on the line. 'Midrace, he made a daring move to attach himself to the back of (stablemate) Moby Dick, who he assumed would take him forward into the race,' Kent Jr, who trains La Fracas in partnership with Mick Price, said. 'That was the winning move.'
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Phillip Stokes chases sentimental success with debutant Bold Secret at Flemington
Bold Secret has the speed to provide Phillip Stokes a sentimental win on Saturday at Flemington. Nancy Eleanor, grandam of the sharp two-year-old Brazen Beau gelding out of the unraced Private Nancy, delivered Stokes his first Group winner in 2003 with victory in the Adelaide Guineas. 'That was a long time ago,' eight-time Group 1-winner Stokes said. Nancy Eleanor had seven foals, five to race, including Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready. Bold Secret, one of 10 juveniles entered in the 1000m 2YO Handicap on Saturday, has won his past three jumpouts including respective 800m and 1000m experiences at Pakenham. Bold Secret looped the field from last to win the recent 1000m hitout by almost two lengths. Champion jockey Craig Williams identified the gelding from the jumpouts and secured the race ride. 'I like this horse a lot,' Stokes said. 'We rode him quiet in the trial the other day (and he) finished off nice. 'This will tell us where we're at, we'll try him down the straight.' Bold Secret, the only unraced two-year-old in the field, has stern opposition including Flemington specialist Shining Smile, a three-time Listed winner. Stokes also has Red Hot Nicc second-up in the 1200m Benchmark 84 on Saturday at Flemington.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, July 12, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET IN FLIGHT (R8 No.6): In Flight is ready for the step up to Group 3 company after back-to-back Listed wins. She would prefer if the track stays in the soft range with all seven of her career wins on rain-affected surfaces, however, she has placed in four from five on good ground. The 1100m is also in her sweet spot with six wins and three placings from 13 attempts. NEXT BEST YELLOW SAM (R7 No.3): Yellow Sam has won both starts since his return from injury and can expect another honest performance from her. She meets most of her main rivals from last start and should get a similar run in transit after drawing barrier five again. SHADHAVAR (R2 No.7): Shadhavar has won both trials ahead of her return. Her two career wins have been at the 1100m, and she was Group 3 placed at the track and distance last campaign behind talented filly Arabian Summer. LAY OF THE DAY THE JOCKEY Craig Williams has chances in nearly every race, which includes three favourites. SIGNATURE SCENT (R1 No.2 – $2.20), SCAMPI (R2 No.4 – $7.50), SUPERCILIOUS (R3 No.2 – $3.80), POUNDING (R4 No.1 – $4.40), MOMETZ (R5 No.7 – $4.60), SILVER CLIFF (R6 No.19 – $11), THE OPEN (R7 No.9 – $4.20), IN FLIGHT (R8 No.6 – $2.70), OUTTA COMPTON (R9 No.12 – $8). Originally published as On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, July 12, 2025
