Craig Williams has been the beneficiary of Damien Oliver missing the Caulfield meeting with a well-judged front-running ride on Godolphin filly Minouche.
Oliver missed Saturday’s meeting being unfit to ride despite being cleared of neck fractures following a barrier incident at Warrnambool on Thursday.
An 11-time Scobie Breasley Medialist, Oliver had precautionary scans at Warrnambool on Thursday night before standing down from riding at The Valley on Friday night.
Oliver had hoped to take his rides on Saturday but was ruled out on race morning.
Williams took over in the saddle on the James Cummings-trained Minouche and was able to control the race and was even headed in the straight before fighting back to score.
Sent out the $2.90 favourite in the John Moule Handicap (1400m), Minouche scored by a head from Throntari ($3.40) with El Patroness ($7.50) a neck away third.
When given the call-up to ride Minouche, Williams said he had received explicit instructions from Cummings on how the daughter of Written Tycoon should be ridden.
“James, after I received the ride this morning, sent me through some riding instructions and they were really important to the horse’s development and for the win today,” Williams said.
“They were instructions for a field that was void of much pressure, a small field and I really like the way she did it today.
“She’s got so much upside and is still very, very raw. I liked that she relaxed really well, after being a little bit lost in front.
“They’ve got options for her with distance range for her but she’s a lovely, solid filly going the right way.”
