From Cup favourite to fish and salad for Craig Williams

Ben Dorries - Tuesday October 17

Craig Williams woke up on Tuesday planning to ride the Caulfield Cup favourite but will now be dining on a strict fish and salad diet to make the weight on Amelie's Star.

Craig Williams will be on a fish and salad diet to make the Caulfield Cup weight on Amelie's Star Photo: Darryl Sherer

The champion jockey who has twice before won the Caulfield Cup displaced up-and-coming rider Michael Dee on Amelie's Star after Williams' original mount Admire Deus broke down.

With Darren Weir mare Amelie's Star to carry 51kg in Saturday's Caulfield Cup, Williams' plans for the week ahead changed dramatically.

Williams says he will be dieting to make the weight on Amelie's Star and he insisted Dee would become a Group I winning rider in the future.

"I wasn't expecting to ride 51kg – before I left to come to barrier draw my wife said to me what's for dinner?" Williams said.

"I said 'you know the answer' – salad and fish.

"As for Michael Dee, it is definitely disappointing for him.

"I have been in that position and I guess we have all been in that position.

"With his form and his calibre, he will be winning Group I races soon enough."

Irish raider Johannes Vermeer tightened his grip on Caulfield Cup favouritism after drawing barrier two – firming from $5.50 to $4.60 with bookmakers.

Humidor stayed firm in betting as second favourite ($6) after drawing barrier seven, while Amelie's Star drifted slightly to $8.50 after coming up with barrier 13.

Weir admitted the draw was far from ideal for Amelie's Star.

"It is a little bit sticky for her, we would have liked to draw much further inside with her," Weir said.

"But she will certainly be in the first half of the field and doing her best."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sacred Falls Mare Wins G3 Dark Jewel for Waikato Stud
In-form mare Fall For Cindy carried the Waikato Stud colours to a valuable first black-type victory in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Coolmore Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone.
The Melbourne Cup is on The Map for Andrew Ramsden Stakes Winner
A fortnight after her near four-length romp in the Group III Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2500m) at Morphettville, The Map reserved a spot in the 2024 Melbourne Cup with another strong staying performance in Saturday's Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington.
Invincible Filly Proves Her Class
She’s big and beautiful and I Am Invincible’s super talented filly Commemorative has long promised to win a stakes race and joined all the dots at Scone on Saturday finishing like an express train to win the $200,000 Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) in a breeze.
New SW for Per Incanto - Gringotts Wins at Doomben
New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts took his promising career to new heights in Brisbane on Saturday with a first black-type success in the A$160,000 Listed Sky Racing Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 18
Here is the full list of 115 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bargain Basement Mare Aureus Angel Storms to Victory in Bright Shadow Stakes
Purchased online for a mere $2,500 after breaking her maiden at Kembla, the Turffontein mare Aureus Angel has been a regular fixture in stakes races in Queensland this season and was rewarded at Doomben on Saturday when capturing the Magic Millions Bright Shadow Stakes (1100m).
Bella Nipotina Wins G1 Doomben 10,000
Pride of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina has been a busy girl this year lining up in five million dollar sprint races before heading to Doomben for the $1.5million BRC Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday and the Ciaron Maher trained six year-old pulled out her A game to down the favourite I Wish I Win in a thriller.
Tannhauser Breaks Through in Rough Habit Stakes
After promising so much early on, Tannhauser was not spared the surgeon’s knife, which may set him on a track to the Queensland Derby following his dominant performance in Saturday’s Group III Seven Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben.
Pedigree Watch – UK – Another G1 Upset
Renowned UK farm Cheveley Park Stud were expected to win the Group I Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (1m) at Newbury overnight with a homebred and they did, but not with the one punters were thinking.
New SW For Proisir
Islington Lass could have Group One goals on her radar after capping her breakthrough campaign with victory in Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham.