Fifth Scobie Breasley medal for Craig Williams

Darryl Sherer - Monday September 4

Craig Williams won his fifth Scobie Breasley medal and Winx named Victorian Horse of the Year at Sunday's award evening in Melbourne.

Craig Williams. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Williams polled 62 votes to defeat Damian Lane on 43 with Damien Oliver third on 41 for the 21st year of the jockeys' award.

Williams, who also won his sixth Roy Higgins medal for his win in the Melbourne metropolitan premiership, finished runner-up to Dwayne Dunn for the Scobie Breasley last year, voted on a 3-2-1 basis by stewards at Melbourne metropolitan meetings.

Williams said he considered himself blessed to have won the award again.

"We do a dangerous job which we love to do but we are all fortunate enough to have great teams behind us," Williams said.

"It's a great honour to win this award again - when Australian jockeys go overseas and ride so well it's because of the depth of opposition we ride against here day in day out.

"It was the success of Scobie Breasley in Europe that paved the way for so many Australian jockeys to ride overseas and we are all grateful for that."

Despite another successful season, Williams said he is driven to keep succeeding.

"The competition last season was great and I'm looking forward to the new season. It was great to get the first Group One on Vega Magic on Saturday but the merry go round keeps going.

"I was watching videos this morning looking for my next winner so things don't stop."

The 2017 award winners are:

Scobie Breasley Medal - Craig Williams

Roy Higgins Medal (Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership) - Craig Williams (77 wins)

Victorian Jockeys' Premiership - Dean Yendall (138 wins)

Metropolitan Apprentices' Premiership - Beau Mertens (73 wins)

Victorian Apprentices' Premiership - Beau Mertens (104 wins)

Victorian Racehorse of the Year - Winx

Fred Hoysted Medal - David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig

Metropolitan Trainers' Premiership - Darren Weir (137 wins)

Victorian Trainers' Premiership - Darren Weir (416 wins)

Tommy Corrigan Medal - John Allen

Colin Alderson Rising Star - Archie Alexander

TROA Victorian Owner of the Year - David Hayes

TBV Champion Victorian Sire - Written Tycoon

TBV Leading Victorian Breeder - Gilgai Farm

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Winner Ruthless Dame Added to MM National Sale
Outstanding Group One winner Ruthless Dame will present buyers with another world class opportunity at next week's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
Australian Stud Book Red Flags –You Don’t Need a Crystal Ball
We haven’t done one of these stories for a while, but the Australian Studbook offers a wealth of information and if you know what to look for the pointers for future success are often red flagged.
Randwick around the track with Clinton Payne on Saturday
Saturday saw the return of Australian racing’s pin-up girl Winx and after giving racegoers a genuine heart flutter, she duly delivered with one of her best ever wins at Randwick.
Good Things Come in Threes
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have raced two outstanding daughters of Proisir in the colours of Philip and Catherine Brown, and on Wednesday they are hoping they can unveil another at Taupo.
More Pinhooking Paradise from Fairhill Farm at Magic Millions
Fairhill Farm were the leading vendor by aggregate at the recent Inglis Weanling Sale selling 21 weanlings at an average in excess of $90,000 and the good news for pinhookers is that their season is set to continue at the Gold Coast with Mike and Debbie O’Donnell to offer a further nine weanlings at Magic Millions that will be parading from Wednesday.
US Navy Flag Heads The Oaks Roster for 2024
The Oaks Stud in Cambridge have announced their service fees for the forthcoming breeding season with the roster to be headed by leading second season sire U S Navy Flag at $15,000 + GST.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were five heats at the Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday morning won by some interesting juveniles including a Japanese conceived and foaled in the UK filly, plus a smart looking colt by Castelvecchio.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 21
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolmore Sires Quinella Listed Derby du Languedoc
The Listed Derby du Languedoc (2400m) at Toulouse in France overnight produced a quinella for Coolmore sires Churchill (IRE) and Wootton Bassett (GB) with progressive colt Zweig hanging on to win in a thriller over lightly raced filly Wootton Zi.
Good Showing Expected from Justify Colt
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh believes Bourbon Proof can make his presence felt in strong three-year-old company next season.