Williams appeals in bid to ride Big Duke

Leading Melbourne jockey Craig Williams will need two meetings shaved off a careless riding suspension if he is to ride favourite Big Duke in the Sydney Cup.

Williams, who was suspended at Sandown on Monday, will have an appeal heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Wednesday.

His suspension began after the Sandown meeting and is due to end at midnight on Sunday.

Williams did not request a stay of proceedings after pleading guilty to the careless riding charge for his winning ride on Lopartega.

Racing Victoria stewards took into consideration his good riding record and that the interference was graded in the low range when they issued the eight-meeting ban.

Williams is unbeaten in two rides on the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke but riding the imported galloper hasn’t been easy for the jockey.

Williams had to pass a cognitive test before riding Big Duke to victory in the Chairman’s Handicap at Randwick on April 1 after suffering concussion in a fall from The Gold Trail in the Mornington Cup on March 25.

Big Duke heads Sydney Cup betting for the re-run of the abandoned race from April 8 at $3.50 over Godolphin gallopers Penglai Pavilion ($4.60) and Polarisation ($6) with three-year-old filly Lasqueti Spirit next pick at $8.