Jukebox presses Diamond claims on debut

Jockey Craig Williams has rated debut winner Jukebox among the top group of juveniles he has ridden.

Premier Melbourne jockey Craig Williams has rated debut winner Jukebox among the top group of juveniles he has ridden so far this season after the colt emerged as a Blue Diamond chance with victory at Geelong.

Williams is in the envious position of having ridden what he describes as “three exceptional two-year-olds” so far this season.

Williams has been aboard classy fillies Tulip and Catchy who occupy the top two lines of Blue Diamond markets, with Tulip an impressive winner on debut at Moonee Valley on December 31 while Catchy is unbeaten in her two starts.

Jukebox, trained by Ciaron Maher, is at $15 with one corporate bookmaker for the Blue Diamond on February 25 after winning a 1000m-maiden on Thursday by 1-1/4 lengths.

“I cut my holiday short to ride two really nice two-year-olds and he was definitely well worth it, the same as the filly on Saturday,” Williams told broadcaster Racing.com.

Williams won on the Lindsay Park filly Catchy at Caulfield on Saturday having planned to take the first couple of weeks of January off ahead of Saturday’s Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast.

“He (Jukebox) was down to run on Caulfield Cup day (in October) and he didn’t pull up well after a gallop so they put him away,” Williams said.

“The stable’s got a big opinion of him and I’ve had a sit on him and I know he’s got plenty of ability.

“It’s nice to see him go to the races and be very professional and do the job well.”

Maher’s assistant trainer David Eustace said it was a relief to see Jukebox perform on debut and he expected him to head to the Preview on January 26.