Melbourne metropolitan jockeys’ premiership winner Craig Williams is Master of Sandown. Champion jockey Noel Callow was last weekend crowned the Master of Caulfield after a stellar 2005-06 season.MELBOURNE Racing Club (MRC) presented its Masters Awards in the mounting yard at Caulfield on Saturday, and champion jockeys Noel Callow and Craig Williams were among the recipients.
The annual awards for the top-ranked jockeys and trainers for the season are determined by a points-based scoring system at the club’s two racing venues, Caulfield and Sandown.
The winners in the recently completed 2005-06 season were:
Master Trainer (at both tracks) – Lee Freedman; Master Jockey (Caulfield) – Noel Callow; and Master Jockey (Sandown) – Craig Williams.
Lee Freedman was named the Master Trainer at both Caulfield and Sandown for the third year in a row.
It was Williams’ and Callow’s first MRC awards and capped off great seasons by both which saw them finish one-two in the metropolitan jockeys’ premiership.
Williams was narrowly denied victory at Caulfield, but was a comfortable winner over Craig Newitt and apprentice Blake Shinn at Sandown.
Callow hit the lead at the final Caulfield meeting of the season on Sir John Monash Stakes Day, 22 July, to finish with 123 points and held out Steven King and Williams by a single point.
The final standings for the 2005-06 season were:
Master Jockey (Caulfield) – Noel Callow 123 points, Steven King 122, Craig Williams 122.
Master Jockey (Sandown) – Craig Williams 171 points, Craig Newitt 129, Blake Shinn (a) 129.
Master Trainer (Caulfield) – Lee Freedman 185 points, David Hayes 162, Peter Moody 108.
Master Trainer (Sandown) – Lee Freedman 250 points, David Hayes 183, Mick Price 125.
