The first time Craig Williams will hop aboard James J Braddock will be in the mounting yard on Melbourne Cup day.

It may seem a strange approach, but it is one the star jockey assures is not too peculiar in this day and age.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained northern hemisphere three-year-old will contest the great 3200m race on the first Tuesday in November.

‘Willo’ was booked for the ride back on September 20, but November 3 will be the very first time the veteran hoops sits on top of the Ozzie Kheir-owned galloper.

“I haven’t been on him and I won’t be on him until race day,” Williams confirmed to reporters.

“We spoke to Joseph (O’Brien) yesterday (Monday) and he said he’s got it under control.

“It looks like I’ll see him in the mounting yard on the first Tuesday in November.”

Asked if that was an unusual feeling, Williams insisted it’s just the norm in this day of global horse racing.

“It’s part and parcel of the job, that the first time you ride a horse is on race day,” he added.

“That’s not unusual for us these days. We can fly into different parts of the world and ride a horse for the first time.”

Williams said once contacted about the ride by Kheir, he and his manager had to make a decision quite swiftly, otherwise the golden opportunity would slip from their grasp.

It is a judgment call he describes as a “plunge” with commitment not seen since his wedding day!

“Ozzie did bully me into committing to riding him pretty early,” Williams joked.

“The last time I committed this early I got married.

“He was on our shortlist anyway - everyone’s got a list. When I had a conversation with Ozzie it was a bit like, ‘You’ve only got the next eight hours to make a decision otherwise they will move and have to lock someone in’.

“I spoke to my manager, Jason Breen, and we thought if he’s on our list and we wait any longer until he arrives and we sit on him then he won’t be on our list.

“We decided to take the plunge, and hopefully after the first Tuesday at 3:15 in the afternoon that it’s the right plunge.”

Williams, who is gunning for his second Melbourne Cup victory, hopes he has the right horse for Australia’s most famous race.

“He’s definitely a well-credentialed horse for this year’s Melbourne Cup,” he said further.

“He’s got the right form reference.

“How he turns up on race day, how he acquits himself and how good he is, everyone will know after the race.”

James J Braddock is currently a $13 Melbourne Cup chance with Sportsbet.

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