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...
Lightly Raced Ferivia Wins G3 Quezette Stakes
Making just her third race day appearance, the Phillip Stokes trained Astern filly Ferivia made the step to black type racing with ease, winning $200,000 Group 3 MRC Quezette Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.
Fully Lit Back in Winning Form
Talented Hellbent gelding Fully Lit won the $2million Inglis Millennium as a juvenile, but has had his issues since then with his owners repaid for their faith and patience when he returned at Rosehill on Saturday to score a commanding victory.
Another Promising Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) will be parading at Coolmore next Sunday and the champion son of Siyouni is warming to the task of siring winners with Venetian Prince opening his account at Newbury in the UK overnight.
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.
Debut Winner for Hello Youmzain
Less than 24 hours after losing one in the inquiry room, Sam O’Malley officially brought up the first win of his training career when Landman took out the Buckley Contracting (1100m) at Woodville on Sunday.
Pride And Proven - Private Eye Wins The G2 PB Lawrence Stakes
Taking his earnings past $12.3m for connections with his thirteenth career win, and seventh at black type level, Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride’s gallant war-horse Private Eye (Al Maher) recorded and easy watch victory in the Gr2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 16
Here is the full list of 118 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
€800,000 Colt and Filly Top Arqana Deauville Yearlings Day 1
The Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale kicked off on Saturday night in France with a total of 71 yearlings sold during the first evening of the sale, with 72% of them changing hands for a turnover of €11,750,000 and the top price was shared at €800,000.
More Success for Pierro's War Eternal
Accomplished galloper War Eternal scored the fifth win of his career and took his earnings past A$750,000 with a determined victory in Saturday’s Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
Five Straight and a Stakes Victory for Pop Award
There is a myriad of Snitzel sons at stud this spring, but for value and proven credentials it’s impossible to go past Rosemont Stud’s Cox Plate hero Shamus Award, who posted his first stakes-winner of the new season when exciting mare Pop Award landed the Listed MRC Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.