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...
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.
Estijaab's Daughter Ejaabiyah Second at Newbury
After hacking up by six lengths at her only start at two, Ejaabiyah, a daughter of Frankel and the Golden Slipper winner Estijaab, fell two and a quarter lengths short of catching Godolphin's exciting Shamardal filly Diamond Rain in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes (10f) at Newbury on Saturday.
Thoroughbreds are Go Returns to Sky on Monday Night
Caroline Searcy’s informative and entertaining thoroughbred re-homing television program Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG) returns for Series 1 in 2024 this Monday night May 20.
Stakes Filly for Golden Slipper Winner Estijaab
A $1.7million Inglis Easter purchase for Emirates Park, Snitzel filly Estijaab won the 2018 Golden Slipper for Emirates Park before embarking on a stud career in the Northern Hemisphere and her first born Frankel filly Ejaabiyah gained Black Type on Saturday in the UK when finishing a good second in the Listed Newbury Fillies Trial Stakes (1m2f)
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.
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.
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.
More Group Success for Kiwi Bred Western Empire
The resurgence of a former superstar of Perth racing continued when Western Empire lived up to his $1.85 favouritism in Saturday’s Gr.3 Furphy Belmont Sprint (1400m).
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.
Ciaron Maher Cheers On Melbourne Cup Hopeful at Newbury
The Melbourne Cup remains in play for Middle Earth and his new part owner, Ciaron Maher, after making a successful 2024 bow in the Group III Aston Park Stakes at Newbury.