Craig Williams impressed with Admire Deus

Admire Deus is high on Craig Williams’ list of potential Cup rides after the jockey partnered him in a track gallop in Japan last week.

The Japanese horse has entered quarantine for the trip to Australia for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cups.

Williams will sit out the next three weeks as the spring carnival starts to heat up.

He received a 23-meeting ban on Jukebox in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday for careless riding which resulted in Limestone and Damian Lane falling.

But he has something to look forward to with the jockey describing Admire Deus a really solid horse.

“He’s the third-highest staying horse that they’ve got in Japan and I was delighted with the feel that he’s given me and also the piece of work that we did together,” Williams said.

“I just know that he’s one of the main chances in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.”

Williams said riding the stayer in a gallop before he entered quarantine enabled him to get a baseline on the seven-year-old ahead of his arrival in Australia.

“I was able to have one exercise with him on the Sunday and then sharper work on the Monday and then he went into quarantine so I couldn’t continue to ride him,” Williams said.

“I would’ve loved to have ridden him again before I came home but, as it turns out, when he arrives in Melbourne I’ll have an indication of how he feels in comparison to how he felt in Japan.

“So it puts us in a really good position to know how he’s going.”

Williams said Admire Deus was high up on his list of potential Cup mounts, but added things could change as the races get closer.

“My manager keeps on saying you’re not locked in until you actually jump on their back in the mounting yard because there’s scratchings and there’s this and there’s all the rest of it,” Williams said.

“But I’ve told him of my intentions of wanting to ride him so far.”

Admire Deus is a $17 chance behind $5 favourite Humidor in the Caulfield Cup and at the same quote for the Melbourne Cup behind $9 favourite Almandin.