The Best Bets Star of the Saddle on Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Day was awarded to Craig Williams with a victory aboard Savatiano in the final race securing the $100,000 prize.
Launched on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington in early October, the Star of the Saddle recognises the best and fairest jockey at selected feature meetings throughout the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.
With points awarded on a 3-2-1 basis to the placegetters in each race, Williams placed in four races to amass 10 points and ultimately take home $100,000.
Williams bookended the day with victories in the opening Keno Classic Handicap (1700m) on Extreme Pride and the final race, the Schweppes Tristarc Stakes (1400m) on Savatiano.
The champion jockey also posted a pair of second placings aboard Demerara in the Carlton Draught Alinghi Stakes (1100m) and Vow and Declare in the Stella Artois Caufield Cup (2400m).
Both Damian Lane and Michael Dee finished equal second on seven points but due to the conditions of the Star of the Saddle, any rider suspended during the race meeting for a riding offence or whip use is ineligible.
Dee was ruled out owing to a 7-meeting suspension incurred in Race 9 with Lane also suspended for 10-meetings and issued a $20,000 fine due to an incident in the same race.
“Ben Melham’s six points made him the next best points scorer in today’s Star of the Saddle, with a win on Streets of Avalon in the Ladbrokes Moonga Stakes (1400m) and three third placings.”
Williams joins inaugural winner Jordan Childs, who claimed the $50,000 prize outright at Flemington two weeks ago and last weekend’s joint winners Kerrin McEvoy and Damian Lane who split the $50,000 on Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day as winners of the Star of the Saddle this spring.
The Star of the Saddle will resume at the two-day Cox Plate Carnival at The Valley on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October which comprises 18 races.