Rapid Racing returns to Flemington on Friday and the City team is formidable with Craig Williams and Damien Oliver leading the charge

Champion jockeys Craig Williams and Damien Oliver expect their sometimes unheralded country counterparts to be a force in the second-annual Rapid Racing showcase at Flemington on Friday.

The twilight card will see the state's best riders square off in seven sprint races down the famous straight.

“We're very fortunate we’ve got great talent in Victoria and this showcases all of that in one venue throughout a short period of time,” Williams said.

“We were down and out throughout the day (last year) and it wasn’t until later on, with the extra points, we lifted over the line.”

Country led City in the inaugural Rapid Racing Jockeys’ Challenge before Williams saluted in the last to clinch victory with double points up for grabs.

Oliver welcomed the increased competition, mindful country jockeys, including Jack Hill, Jamie Mott, Harry Coffey and Dean Yendall, would want to make the most of the opportunity at Headquarters.

The City (evens) and Country (odds) jockeys have been allocated rides based on saddle cloth number.

“You're riding horses you’re not regularly riding for different trainers,” Oliver said.

“It gives some of the young jockeys and country jockeys the opportunity to prove themselves.

“They don't often get the opportunity that us city jockeys have … it gives them a chance to test themselves against the city jockeys on a better horse they might not usually get the chance to ride.”

Reigning Rapid Racing champion coach Denis Pagan moved to play down City’s chances despite the star-studded jockey line-up.

“I might have Damien and Jamie (Kah) and Craig Williams,” the AFL premiership coach-turned-Group 1 Victoria Derby-winning trainer said.

“But if they’re on 80-1 shots it won’t matter one thing because I don’t think anybody can make strawberry jam out of cow manure.”

Originally published asCity slickers ready to go for Rapid Racing

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