Globetrotting rider Craig Williams has been selected to represent Australia in next month’s Meydan Masters International Jockeys Challenge in Dubai.
The invitation series compromises the top 12 jockeys from around the globe.
The Challenge on January 5 is part of the official opening of the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival which runs through to the Dubai Cup meeting on March 31.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Christophe Lemaire, Frankie Dettori, Tom Queally, William Buick, Mickael Barzanola, Ryan Moore, Colm O’Donoghue, Mirco Demuro, Kenichi Ikezoe and Andrasch Starke are all confirmed to take part.
Williams has been in great form over the spring and summer winning six Group One races in three countries.
He guided Alfredo to win the Asahi Hai Futurity at Nakayama racecourse in Japan last Sunday after wins aboard Ortensia in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 19 and Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden in the Hong Kong Vase (2400m) on December 11.
During the Melbourne spring carnival Williams won the Caulfield Cup (2400m) aboard Southern Speed, the Cox Plate (2040m) on Pinker Pinker and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on Toorak Toff.
A careless riding suspension on Bendigo Cup day cost him the ride on Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup which went to French rider Lemaire.
The suspension also put paid to the four-time Scobie Breasley Medallist becoming the first jockey to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the one season.
Williams will ride Tosen Jordan, who he rode into second place in the Japan Cup (2400m) late last month, in Sunday’s Group One $5 million Arima Kinen (2500m).
The 2012 Meydan Masters jockeys have won a total of 61 Group One races from around the world including the Dubai World Cup, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Irish Derby.
AAP TURF
