Craig Williams remains determined to secure his tenth Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership, despite serving a two-week ban for careless riding in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

He’ll return to riding on July 6, just one day after the Winter Championships Finals Day—a meeting he’s thrived at but will now miss due to the suspension.

A winning double at Flemington last weekend brought him within eight wins of sidelined leader Blake Shinn.

“It’s a goal,” Williams said.

“There’s nothing better than being in winter and having goals and challenges.”

If successful, he’ll match Damien Oliver’s tally of ten titles, one short of record holders Roy Higgins and Bill Williamson.

Williams said he’s got seven meetings and around 70 rides to close the gap.

He had planned to visit Ukraine with his family during the break, but said that’s now postponed.

“The suspension just means I’m not race riding, but I want to win a Championship,” he said.

“Once we get that next eight (winners), we’ll go back to Ukraine and help with the humanitarian aid.”