The battle for supremacy on the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership is on with only four winners separating Craig Williams and Blake Shinn.
Both returned to riding in the metropolitan area at Sandown last week following suspension and injury enforced breaks with Shinn leading Williams by eight.
Williams landed a solitary winner at Sandown before adding to his haul at Caulfield last Saturday and has five metropolitan meetings remaining until seasons end on July 31 to overhaul Shinn and land a tenth premiership.
Shinn has gone winless in the two meetings since returning from injury and had two second place finishes at Caulfield.
Both riders have excellent books at Sandown on Wednesday with Williams having rides in all eight races while Shinn has mounts in seven.
However, early betting suggests Shinn is better placed than Williams on Wednesday’s card with rides on four favourites with Williams booked on three.
All of Shinn’s rides are under double figure while Williams has two at double figure odds including $26 outsider Artistic Genius in the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1300m).
Shinn’s shortest priced ride is $2.50 chance Ad Vitam in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate (1400m) while Williams’ best ride, on paper, is $3.10 top elect Ten Deep in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1400m).
Williams said he was enjoying the contest with Shinn as they each strive for Premiership honours.
“My riding coach said it pretty simply,” Williams said.
“If you ride more winners than Blake, you win and if he rides more than you, he wins.
“It’s a great competition, but if I wasn’t here Blake wouldn’t be here and vice versa.
“We have unbelievable respect for each other, we make each other better.
“We have worked tactically with each other throughout the years. In Hong Kong we were sharing stories and experiences and how we can better our riding ability and learn from things.
“That’s no different now, even though we’re in competition, we make each other better.”
Williams said he has “good rides” on Wednesday and again on Saturday at Flemington.
“They’ve still all got to get there safely, turn up well and give me their best performances,” he said.
