Craig Williams has inched two wins clear of Dwayne Dunn as the race for the metropolitan premiership approaches a climax.
With just four meetings remaining, Williams sits on 66 wins as he chases a fifth Melbourne jockeys’ title, leaving Dunn with some work to do if he’s going to claim his first.
Despite sitting on four favourites at Caulfield on Saturday, Dunn couldn’t manage a winner, coming away with two placings.
Williams’ win came aboard Ulmann and champion trainer Darren Weir felt it was redemption after an earlier ride on stablemate Bondeiger.
“He definitely owed us that one – he stuffed up the race before,” Weir said.
“He should’ve just come out when he went in, but he came back and admitted it so that’s the main thing.
“He made sure he was coming out in that one and rode it very well, the horse went great.”
Weir says Ulmann is a lazy trackworker who saves his best for raceday.
“I didn’t have any great plans for him the way he is at home, but when you go back through his form he’s obviously a talented galloper,” he said.
“I guess we’ll have to look for something in the spring hopefully.”
Williams, to his credit, took the criticism from Weir on the chin and responded with a gun ride on Ulmann.
“I don’t think it made up for it - I’d like to have that ride (on Bondeiger) again and fortunately for me, I will in two weeks,” Williams said.
“(Ulmann’s) form on paper was much superior to anything in the race, he’s run behind Winx, he’s run behind Malaguerra, (he’s run behind) Fell Swoop – he’s got seriously strong form around him.
“I like the way he won... that should give him the world of confidence.”
In the race for the apprentice title, Michael Dee cut Dylan Dunn’s lead to three wins after pilotingO’Lonera to victory for Cindy Alderson in the Wilson Medic One Handicap (2000m).