CRAIG WILLIAMS

One of the most highly regarded and professional jockeys around the nation, Craig Williams has been near the top of the tree for about 20 years. Riding his first Group 1 winner aboard Grand Echezeaux in the 2000 Australasian Oaks, Craig Williams then immediately took up a position in the UK, riding for Mick Channon. Williams struck up a relationship with Toubougg when Channon's leading rider got injured with the pair going on to win the Group 1 Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp and Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Williams was invited to ride in Dubai before being offered a contract in Hong Kong in 2001 and forged a link with trainer David Hayes, the pair returned to Australia in 2005 where they combined for a total of 14 Group 1 wins until 2009 when Williams went freelance. That link to the Lindsay Park yard has seen him salute on many top class horses with Miss Finland one of the best. Craig Williams has won Group 1 races in Hong Kong, France, Dubai, UK, Japan and Australia.  He also linked up with French horse Dunaden to win the Caulfield Cup when the year prior, he missed the mount on him, through suspension, in the 2011 Melbourne Cup.