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Williams ends run of outs

4 November 2021 Written by Andrew Eddy

Craig Williams finished in the placings in all three spring majors in Melbourne but finally got himself into the winner's stall when he partnered debut filly See You In Heaven in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes at Flemington on Thursday.

The victory aboard the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained filly ended a 50-race run of outs that stretched back to AFL Grand Final Day, when he rode Zaaki to win the G1 Underwood Stakes.

Since then, he had finished second on Nonconformist in the Caulfield Cup, second on Anamoe in the Cox Plate and third on Spanish Mission in the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

"It's my job to ride my horses well and If they haven't figured where they were expected to, there has generally been a reason for it, so that's just the way racing is," said the nine-time premier jockey in Melbourne.

"I couldn't have been more proud of my horses in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Lexus Melbourne Cup, but I didn't win them."

As for See You In Heaven, who is the first Stakes winner for sire Divine Prophet, Williams paid credit to her trainers for presenting her in such great shape. He said education was not his concern before the race.

"She's got really nice speed (but) the only thing about her characteristics is that she likes to kick other horses," he said.

"That's the only thing I had to deal with pre-race, that she didn't injure anyone else.

"(She's) very professional, (has) very good ability and everyone could see that today."

See You In Heaven was well supported into $9 and she had a great battle with the other emergency in the race Satin Love, who was backed in to run the $5.50 favourite. In the end there was a length-and-a-quarter margin on the line, with a short head to $26 chance Bohemian Daisy in third place.