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By Colin Hodges

To achieve an ambition many thought was virtually impossible, hard work and an amazing level of perseverance was required from 63-year-old jockey Tony Williams to make a return to race riding.

Last weekend he had crowning glory when he landed a winning double including the Cup aboard Titled Tycoon on Saturday at Harden picnics.

Incredibly, the brace of winners at Harden came 46 years after his last winning ride in 1978 at a meeting in Victoria.

In-form picnics rider Tony 'Tubba' Williams. Image by Brooke Chandler

During an apprentice jockey career cut short by rising weight, Tony Williams from a handful of rides kicked home winners at Woodend, Hanging Rock, Benalla and Swan Hill.

Since then, Williams has become a highly respected figure with his vast experience in other facets of racing both in Australia and overseas seeing his opinion and advice regarding thoroughbred stud operations, breeding and sales sought by numerous leading players in the industry.

The quest by Tony (often referred to as “Tubba“) Williams to make a race riding comeback has been well documented including losing almost 40kg to ride at Bong Bong picnics in October 2023.

Following the Bong Bong debut he has travelled to often very remote meetings seeking his first winner since the comeback and although well ridden his mounts have simply not been good enough on the day.

At Harden on Saturday, even his fellow jockeys at the meeting were cheering when he returned to scale as the winning rider on the Bill Hayes, Forbes-trained Side Cash in the 1300m Irving Family-Thompson Rural-Delta Ag Maiden Plate.

Racing in third position on top of the hill about 350m from the finish, Side Cash ($2.10) was pushed through a gap between the leaders by Williams and won by almost a length from Toogoodtobeacod (Emily Waters, $2 favourite) and Be Diplomatic (Kate Petersen, $4).

A good field contested the 1400m Redbank North & Ray White Real Estate Harden Picnic Cup with the Rod Northam, Scone-trained Titled Tycoon burdened with 75kg and conceding up to 13kg to some rivals.

Always travelling well for Tony Williams, Titled Tycoon ($4.80) worked through an opening topping the hill and won by close to two lengths from Notes (Izzy Neale, $4.20) and Namarari (Emily Waters, $5).

“I am extremely grateful to Rod Northam and Bill Hayes for entrusting me with the rides and feel very humbled by the many congratulatory calls and messages received since the wins,” said Tony Williams.

“I also feel very fortunate to have this happen 46 years after my last winning ride and when I am now almost 64 years of age,“ Tony added.

Next meeting for Tony Williams is the Bong Bong picnics on Friday 22 November for which he has four early bookings.