Australian jockey Craig Williams scored one of the biggest wins of his career when he won ''Japan's Melbourne Cup'' on Jaguar Mail in Kyoto yesterday, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.It says: Williams is on a six-week riding contract in Japan and gave up the plum ride on Ortensia during the Brisbane winter carnival to take up the offer to ride for Noriyuki Hori.It was only his second day of riding in Japan and his victory on the Hori-trained Jaguar Mail in the Tenno Sho confirmed he had made t

Australian jockey Craig Williams scored one of the biggest wins of his career when he won ''Japan's Melbourne Cup'' on Jaguar Mail in Kyoto yesterday, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

It says: Williams is on a six-week riding contract in Japan and gave up the plum ride on Ortensia during the Brisbane winter carnival to take up the offer to ride for Noriyuki Hori.

It was only his second day of riding in Japan and his victory on the Hori-trained Jaguar Mail in the Tenno Sho confirmed he had made the right decision.

''This is Japan's Melbourne Cup and to win it is amazing,'' Williams said. ''When I came over here Jaguar Mail was one the rides I knew I had and I was excited because I had seen him in Hong Kong for past couple of years.

''He gave me a beautiful ride through the race and won really well. He was very strong at the end of the two miles and is a very exciting horse.''

Jaguar Mail raced away to score by three-quarter of a length from Meiner Kitz with Meisho Dontaku five lengths away in third.

It was Williams 23rd group 1 win, with his most recent in Australia on Ortensia in The Galaxy last month.

The well-travelled hoop had never experienced anything like a win in a group 1 in Japan.

''After the last [race], they got us up to the end of the straight, where they had an amphitheatre set up with fans to ask the jockeys question,'' Williams said.

''It was quite unbelievable. It made it even more exciting.''

Williams rode a double on yesterday's card after winning the last race on Saturday.