The Remarkable 2025/26 Season
There are champion jockeys, and then there are riders who continue to redefine what excellence looks like long after most would expect them to slow down. At 49 years of age, Craig Williams has delivered one of the finest campaigns of his decorated career, proving that experience, dedication and relentless professionalism remain invaluable commodities in Australian racing.
The 2025/26 season has been a masterclass from the Victorian star, highlighted by elite Group 1 success, major interstate and international victories, remarkable consistency and the near-certainty of an historic 10th Melbourne Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership.
A Decade Between Premierships
Few achievements illustrate Williams’ longevity better than his latest metropolitan title charge.
After securing his first Melbourne premiership twenty years ago, Williams entered the season determined to add a tenth crown to an already glittering résumé. By late May he had surged clear with 48 metropolitan winners before extending that lead throughout the winter. Following a brilliant Sandown treble in July, he established a commanding advantage over his rivals with only a handful of meetings remaining.
The premiership has not been built on one spectacular month—it has been the product of remarkable consistency.
Week after week Williams has delivered winners for Victoria’s leading stables, maintaining an elite strike rate while continuing to ride at the highest level across Australia and internationally.
Big Race Success
While metropolitan winners accumulate championships, it is the biggest races that define careers—and Williams has continued to shine when the pressure is greatest.
Already recognised as one of Australia’s premier Group 1 riders, Williams entered the season with more than 80 Group 1 victories across Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Dubai, France and Great Britain, a record few jockeys in world racing can match.
The 2025/26 campaign added further prestige through major stakes victories, including international success aboard Cap Ferrat in Hong Kong’s Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, reinforcing Williams’ reputation as one of the sport’s most sought-after big-race riders.
Throughout the season he also partnered winners in numerous Victorian black-type races, consistently delivering in feature company for leading trainers.
| Date | Group 1 Race | Horse | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 September 2025 | Makybe Diva Stakes | Mr Brightside | Flemington |
| 20 September 2025 | Underwood Stakes | Sir Delius | Caulfield |
| 20 September 2025 | Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | Sepals | Caulfield |
| 4 October 2025 | Turnbull Stakes | Sir Delius | Flemington |
| 28 February 2026 | Futurity Stakes | Pericles | Caulfield |
| 14 March 2026 | All-Star Mile (Group 1 from 2026) | Tom Kitten | Flemington |
| 11 April 2026 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Sir Delius | Randwick |
Statistics That Tell The Story
Williams’ numbers continue to underline why he remains one of Australia’s elite jockeys.
Across the past twelve months he has recorded approximately:
- 630+ rides
- 95 winners
- Nearly 175 placings
- Outstanding consistency at metropolitan level.
Those figures become even more impressive considering the depth of Victorian riding ranks, where every metropolitan meeting features multiple Group 1-winning jockeys competing for opportunities.
More Than Just Winners
Perhaps Williams’ greatest strength isn’t simply winning races.
He has become one of the industry’s most respected senior riders—renowned for meticulous race preparation, exceptional communication with trainers and owners, and an ability to produce horses at precisely the right moment.
Whether aboard proven champions or lightly raced youngsters, Williams consistently extracts the maximum from every mount.
That professionalism has made him a favourite among Australia’s leading training operations, who continue to trust him in racing’s biggest moments.
Longevity Through Adaptation
Professional sport rarely allows athletes to remain at the top for three decades.
Williams has done exactly that by continually evolving.
His race riding has become increasingly patient, his tactical awareness sharper than ever, while his renowned fitness and discipline continue to allow him to compete against riders half his age.
Few jockeys have remained genuine Group 1 forces across four different decades.
Williams has.
The Legacy Continues
Already boasting victories in the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, The Everest and elite races across multiple continents, Craig Williams entered the 2025/26 season with little left to prove.
Instead, he chose to add another chapter.
A tenth Melbourne Metropolitan Premiership, major Group 1 success and another season among Australia’s leading riders serve as powerful reminders that greatness isn’t simply measured by talent—it is measured by consistency, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
As another season draws to a close, Craig Williams has once again shown why he remains one of the finest jockeys of the modern era, and why his name will forever be etched among the legends of Australian racing.