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.

Advertisement
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...
$3.7Million Mare Tops Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Day 1
Lush Lips (GB), who won Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana last month, sold for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm to top Tuesday’s Book 1 opener of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. A strong weanling trade and the sale of 17 horses for $1 million or more also marked the session, which posted double-digit increases across the board.
Homegrown glory- Victorian-bred Half Yours claims the 2025 Melbourne Cup
The Australian breeding industry was in the spotlight at Flemington yesterday as Half Yours — bred by Janice and the late Colin McKenna — stormed to victory in the 165th running of the $10 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 m) under a superbly judged ride from Jamie Melham.
Derryn Filly Gives Deja Vu Vibe
Robbie Patterson unveiled a star three-year-old at Wednesday’s New Plymouth meeting last year, and 12 months down the track, another daughter of Derryn made a sparkling debut on his home track.
Hello Youmzain Filly Primed for G1 Guineas
Tony Pike couldn’t have wished for a smoother lead-up with Cream Tart ahead of the filly’s sternest challenge at Riccarton.
Star Filly on the Rise for Playing God
Melbourne Cup day always draws a huge crowd out to Perth's beautiful old Ascot racecourse, and 2025 was no exception!
Consecutive Listed John Letts Cup Wins For Air Assault
Recording his seventh stakes victory, the Andrew Gluyas trained Air Assault produced an outstanding effort at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup day, romping away by more than six and a half lengths to record his second consecutive Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) victory.
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.
Farmer no property GST argument a loser at Tribunal
Back in May of this year I was very pleased to share details of a tax case that held that a farmer need not pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the subdivision and sale of his 10-acre holding. CGT was avoided as it only applies to capital assets acquired on or after 19 September 1985.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two trials at Rosehill on Wednesday morning featured juvenile winners by Russian Revolution and Snitzel, while we also got a first look at the $1.7million full brother to Group I ATC Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic.
Left Wondering
Sometimes a stallion comes along and leaves all too quickly, leaving us wondering if things could have turned out very differently.