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Craig Williams is looking at the bigger picture, sticking with his Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.
Craig Williams' loyalty in sticking with his Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare may have cost him another Group 1 win, but the jockey is looking at the bigger picture.
Williams had partnered Fierce Impact, winner of last Saturday's Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), to two wins at the highest level last spring, but a commitment to Vow And Declare enabled Mark Zahra to take the winning ride.
While disappointed at not being able to continue his association with Fierce Impact, Williams said some decisions are taken out of your hands.
"We made the decision. Clearly disappointed but you've got to show a bit of loyalty in certain situations," Williams said.
"We made a commitment to Danny O'Brien and his owners and after winning a Melbourne Cup there's a lot that you owe horses.
"There's a balancing act in between it. We try to remain professional and honest in our dealings and in the end, over a long period of time, it serves us well."
Williams rode Vow And Declare to win last year's Melbourne Cup and has been aboard the stayer in three of his four runs since.
Vow And Declare had his first run back since finishing fifth over 2600m at Flemington in April when ninth behind Fierce Impact, beaten four-and-three-quarter lengths, last Saturday.
"I would've thought that he's started his preparation really nicely," Williams said.
"He's not a weight-for-age 1600-metre horse and after (Gatting) went amiss, we lost our nice position in the running line and we had to get up a couple of lengths.
"They went slower than what we thought on paper and when they sprinted you could just see that he's a good galloper, but he couldn't hold his position, but late and through the line he was good."
Williams is holding off making a decision on his Melbourne Cup, run at Flemington on November 3, mount having ridden Surprise Baby, the current $8 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds, in his comeback run when second to Humidor in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley on September 5.
