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No Tamworth Cup glory for Craig Williams

3 minute read

Top jockey Craig Williams added his star power to the Tamworth Cup meeting but couldn’t come away with the major prize.

Jockey : CRAIG WILLIAMS.
Jockey : CRAIG WILLIAMS. Picture: Steve Hart

A rare trip to country NSW to ride Tamworth Cup favourite Total Recall didn't go to script for Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams but he can still salvage his weekend on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival. 

Williams made a cameo appearance at Tamworth on Friday to partner the Paul Messara-trained gelding, who finished fifth in a six-horse drive to the line. 

The race was won by Grant Buckley aboard the Jeff Englebrecht-trained High Court, who edged out former Godolphin galloper Wren's Day. 

But all is not lost for Williams, who has six rides at Randwick on Saturday, including one in each of the two G1 races. 

He partners Akahata for Bjorn Baker in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) and accomplished galloper Zoutori for Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra in the All Aged Stakes (1400m). 

An eye-catching fourth to Nature Strip in the T J Smith Stakes, Zoutori returned to Victoria between runs, arriving back in Sydney on Friday. 

While he was a winner up to a mile as a younger horse, Zoutori has more recently made his mark as a sprinter and lumped a hefty weight to capture the Newmarket Handicap two starts ago. 

With jockey Luke Currie already committed to Tagaloa, Williams was keen to reunite with Zoutori, who he has ridden four times for two wins and a second. 

"He does his homework, he knows him well and he's ridden him to perfection a couple of times," Zahra said of Williams. 

"This is what we've peaked him for from the Newmarket. 

"We've been keen to get him beyond 1200 for probably 12 months now and this is the right race to do so." 

Victorian-trained horses have a good record in the All Aged Stakes, winning three of the past six editions, and they currently hold the trophy courtesy of Tofane's victory last year. 


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