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By Ray Hickson

A life in racing is the goal for apprentice jockey Cassey Williams and she doesn’t so much mind whether eventually that’s on or off the track.

Cassey Williams on Thunder Fox after her first career win. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

For now the 24-year-old is enjoying the ride as an apprentice and she’s hoping to continue a successful run at Armidale on Sunday on the two horses, Thunder Fox and Ballybrack, that recently provided her with her first career wins.

After kicking off back in May, Williams endured a few disappointments before Thunder Fox was her first winner just two weeks ago at Tamworth then she backed it up six days later with a double at Armidale.

“I almost couldn’t believe it. It was a huge relief after having so many rides and being on a few in the market still not getting a win so to get one it was pretty special,’’ she said.

Williams grew up with an interest in racing that basically consisted of one day a year but it was in her early teens when she rode her first horse, which happened to be a retired racehorse.

In 2019 she moved to Armidale and found a job as a stablehand with trainer Stafford Wain before taking up an apprenticeship.

She’s now with Stirling Osland and has the job of putting Golden Point, or Goldie as he is known, which is the stable’s runner in the $2 million The Kosciuszko through his main gallops.

The Ian Cook-trained Thunder Fox aims for a hat-trick in successive weeks in the Catholic Schools Office Handicap (1400m) and with that easy heavy track win at Tamworth and home track victory last week under his belt she can only be confident he’ll give another big sight.

“He seems to be going all right on wet tracks and he’s a front runner, Armidale is a front runners track so I do think there is a lot of positives on his side,’’ Williams said.

“I’ve galloped him a few times but he’s not one of my regulars. He’s beautiful to ride, he’s a pleasure at trackwork but on the way to the barriers on race day is a different story.

“He gets the pony because he likes to drag me around a bit but at home he’s a sweetheart.”

Eight-year-old Ballybrack was the second half of Williams’ double last weekend and she’s hopeful a 2.5kg weight drop will allow him to be competitive up in class in the St Alberts College Rugby Union Club Handicap (1300m).

The gelding led all the way to a 1-3/4 length win over the same course and just has to negotiate a sticky barrier on Sunday.

“I’d like to repeat it, I usually look at the speed in the morning when I see the scratchings,’’ she said.

“But I’d like to get him up the front a bit, he races well that way.”

Williams claims 4kg at present and while that won’t last too much longer she hasn’t set any major goals for her first full season in the saddle other that to keep learning.

Thunder Fox wins at Armidale on September 10

She said advice from former champion jockey Corey Brown, Head Jockey Coach for Racing NSW, and time spent at a Team Thoroughbred NSW Training Academy camp at Scone earlier this year has been invaluable.

“They had the mechanical horse there and Corey was able to give tips about swapping whips and holding the reins which was helpful and plenty of other aspects of your riding style,’’ she said.

“I just want to go out there and improve every time I ride. Obviously to try and get as many winners as I can.

“It’s something I enjoy doing and something I’d definitely like to continue doing in the future. I love trackwork and that’s something I’ll never give up, even if things fall through being a jockey.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Armidale meeting