Craig's back after riding 12 winners in Japan

FOUR-TIME premiership-winning Victorian jockey Craig Williams is back. The 34-year-old with a wealth of international experience returns to riding at Flemington today after another successful stint plying his trade in Japan, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. It says: ''I'm really ready and raring to get back into it because it's what I do and I've missed riding at home,'' Williams said. ''I'm lucky enough to be able to travel around to other parts of the world, but this period, with the spring

FOUR-TIME premiership-winning Victorian jockey Craig Williams is back. The 34-year-old with a wealth of international experience returns to riding at Flemington today after another successful stint plying his trade in Japan, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

It says: ''I'm really ready and raring to get back into it because it's what I do and I've missed riding at home,'' Williams said. ''I'm lucky enough to be able to travel around to other parts of the world, but this period, with the spring carnival looming, is such an exciting time in Melbourne.''

Williams hasn't ridden in Melbourne since Anzac Day and the two-month stint in Japan netted 12 winners, including a Grp 1 on Grand Prix Boss.

''It might look like beer and skittles riding in Japan but it's been tough and demanding,'' he said. ''The racing is hard and the language barrier is always there and my family is back home [Melbourne] ... but I enjoy the challenge.''

Williams has seven rides at Flemington, including the mount on premier trainer Peter Moody's Testascana, which is favourite for the Hanan Displays Handicap. ''I'd love to kick-off on a winning note and I've some very good rides,'' he said. He reckons the Japanese are still keen on heading to Australia for races like the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. ''But there is so much competition for the best horses in the world,'' he said.