Champion jockey Craig Williams didn’t take long to get back into his stride after only getting back from his fortnight in Ukraine on Thursday night where he delivered humanitarian aid from his charity to the war-torn zone.
Williams was back riding on Friday morning at Flemington jumpouts where he rode Mr Brightside and Home Zone.
He was then in action riding at Caulfield where he was successful at his second and third rides, winning consecutive races on Makdane and then Bossy Benita.
Williams is on the road again to Japan on Sunday to ride in the 2025 World All-Star Series Jockey Challenge at Sapporo next weekend.
Williams said his trip to Ukraine again underlined how privileged we were in Australia.
“You come home and you start focusing on the spring carnival, but it means a lot to us as every dollar goes there. We think when we leave, we have to do more.”
WILLIAMS ON HIS TRIP TO UKRAINE
Williams said while all of Ukraine was at war, it was confronting to see the difference in how far the war had encroached on the capital Kiev since he was last there a year ago.
He said a year ago he had to travel eight to nine hours from Kiev to the contact line in East Ukraine but this time the capital was the contact line.
“On arriving, we got stopped at the checkpoint as the capital was under attack. When we got in, the residential building where we were going to had been attacked and 31 people had been killed, including five children. It really hit home.”
“No one wins in war … to see the devastation of these drones and missiles hitting civilians. On the way out I always think we have to do more.”
“When I get home and I think it’s a cold day or something didn’t work out, that puts it in perspective.”
It was Williams’ third humanitarian trip to the Ukraine, where he and his wife Larysa deliver their aid they had raised in Australia through their charity.”
“We have raised over $2 million. We take it there for supplies and financial contributions.”
“Laysa and I are so grateful; predominantly it’s from the racing industry, but also from people in the street. People are very generous. Every dollar goes there when we leave. We have to do more.”
“I am inspired and motivated by the people there as this is their daily life – we cannot have internet water supplies and we complain. This is life and death for them, and they get on and don’t complain.”
“They have adapted mentally. Our society – we don’t realise how lucky we are for what we have rather than complaining about what we don’t have.”
Williams also saw the bravery of fellow jockey Andrew Mallyon, who is working as a medic and ambulance driver on the front line.
“Andrew Mallyon is a hero. He was living an hour from the front line and he’s doing two sorties a day in his ambulance with a foreign legion medical group. He just wanted to help and he’s saved lives.”