Dunaden emerged as a serious contender when a dominant winner of last week's Geelong Cup with Williams aboard.
But in a dramatic finale to a Bendigo Cup meeting that saw Lloyd Williams own the first two horses home in the feature race, Williams -- who is no relation -- and fellow star jockey Nash Rawiller were suspended for careless riding in two minor races.
While both jockeys are able to fulfil their duties on Victoria Derby Day on Saturday -- Williams rides Cornell and Rawiller Scelto in the $1.5m classic -- they are banned for the rest of the four-day carnival at Flemington pending appeals. They have three days to lodge a challenge.
Williams's agent, Mark Guest, said last night the jockey will exercise that right with the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, while Rawiller that he relished the chance to "vigorously defend his innocence".
A hearing could be held as early as Monday. In the meantime, Guest last night notified connections of Williams's predicament.
Williams, who was suspended for 10 meetings for causing interference rounding the home turn to Rawiller's mount Fast Ruler when aboard The Red Emperor in the race before the Bendigo Cup, was tight-lipped on leaving the stewards' room well after the last race.
To avoid a waiting camera crew, he slipped out a back door and sprinted through the Bendigo Jockey Club's grounds to his car.
Rawiller was banned for eight meetings for causing interference on Star Bender for his uncle in a race worth just $20,000. The Melbourne Cup is valued at $6m, with the jockey's standard share of the winner's purse $180,000.
"It is all about having an opportunity to ride in the Melbourne Cup, let alone winning one and the unfortunate thing about it is that I was on a real chance this year (Unusual Suspect) and there is nothing more heartbreaking than having something like this happen," Rawiller said.
Earlier, in the stewards' room, Rawiller spoke for all jockeys as Cup week loomed when asked for his thoughts on a possible penalty.
Rawiller plans to appeal his suspension in order to take the Melbourne Cup ride on Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent's US import Unusual Suspect.
No jockey has ever won the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same spring, so if Dunaden was to win on Tuesday, Williams's place in history would have been assured. Punters and bookmakers certainly think so; Dunaden was installed as the Melbourne Cup second favourite behind fellow French galloper and last year's winner Americain after his impressive Geelong Cup triumph.
Both Williams and Rawiller are able to fulfil their engagements for Saturday's Victoria Derby day meeting at Flemington because acceptances for the 10 races were taken yesterday morning, some hours before both riders were charged and found guilty. Once acceptances are taken and riders are booked, it is deemed unfair to owners of those booked horses to be forced to find a new jockey.
Williams's suspension was handed down after race seven when stewards alleged he caused interference while riding The Red Emperor. Rawiller's ban was issued following the opening race at Bendigo when he shifted in and caused interference at about the 900-metre mark on third-placed Star Bender.
Williams has already turned in two of the great rides this spring to land the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. He gave South Australian mare Southern Speed the perfect ride in the Caulfield Cup. Seven days later Williams earned the plaudits of all who saw his astonishing ride to win the Cox Plate win on Pinker Pinker. Daring to take inside runs when they were barely there, he railed through on Pinker Pinker and eventually overhauled Kiwi star Jimmy Choux to record an upset win.
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