Racing: Big-race specialist for Kind Returns

One of Australia's most astute big-race riders, Craig Williams, will guide Kind Returns in tomorrow's $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup.

Williams has not long been back in Australia after six years travelling the big-money spots of Hong Kong, Dubai and England.

He was encouraged to ride tomorrow by Te Awamutu trainer Richard Otto, who wanted him here to partner Penitentiary in the $200,000 Railway Handicap.

Things looked bleak when Penitentiary was placed on the ballot at Thursday's acceptances, but the sprinter got back into the field when Celtic Rose was withdrawn yesterday.

Williams was one of Victoria's most prominent apprentice jockeys.

Not long after the now 28-year-old became a senior jockey he went to England to take up a one-year contract.

"I rode 52 winners in England that year then spent three months in Hong Kong," Williams told the Herald yesterday.

"I decided I needed more international experience and rode in England for a further year, landing 31 winners, then spent four months in Dubai."

Williams was contracted to the Hong Kong Jockey Club as a club rider for three years and did extremely well because of his ability to ride very light, much lighter than the predominantly European jocks.

"I landed 106 winners in three years, passing the 100 Hong Kong benchmark, which is a big thing up there."

He rode nearly a quarter of those winners for another ex-pat Australian David Hayes.

That was because Hayes' contracted European rider could ride only those further up the handicap.

"I could ride at 113lbs [51.2kg], which is the Hong Kong minimum weight."

Williams is relatively tall for a jockey, but rode very light at 49kg at the Melbourne spring carnival.

He is currently second to Danny Nikolic on the Melbourne premiership with 31 wins, many of them for David Hayes, who also returned to Australia this year.

Williams also rides Mirabilis (R2), Tyepan (R5), Atapi (R9) and Al Vialli in Race 10.

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The Ellerslie track, soft on Thursday, is expected to be in perfect condition tomorrow if there is no significant rain, according to ARC racing manager Butch Castles.

Castles said he could not believe how much the footing had dried when he walked the course mid-afternoon yesterday.

"I'd say it's 2.7 now and, almost, a shower or two tonight may not even be a bad thing."