Williams, 46, has to compete in five official jumps trials before he gains his jumping jockeys ticket.

"I'll be mixing flat and jumps riding this year," he said.

"I used to ride over the jumps back in Tasmania more than 20 years ago. I had about 20 rides over jumps in Tassie, but unfortunately I never rode a winner before I focused on riding in flat races. I finished in the minor placegetters stall on a few occasions in the jumps races. I'm very fit both mentally and physically and I've got the support of God on my side. I could see there's a bit of an opportunity for mixing flat and jumps riding, so I jumped at it. I've done a fair bit of schooling horses over the jumps for the local trainers over the past few weeks and I'm really grateful for their support."

Williams will ride in the jumping trials at Warrnambool this Friday.

A FEW schools over hurdles may have been sharpened up rank outsider Arkamun to win a restricted flat race at Warrnambool last Thursday.

Bookmakers bet odds of 100/1 about Arkamun winning the $22,000 race before he defeated Romaiya by a length, with Irish Delight back in third place.

Crossley trainer Quinton Scott said punters may have underestimated the chances of Arkamun.

"The horse had genuine excuses for his last two runs," Scott said.

"We've done a fair bit of schooling with him over the last 10 days and it's sharpened him up.

"We're going to send him around in the hurdle schools at Warrnambool this Friday with the view that he'll run in hurdle races this season. He's not a bad type of jumper."

Arkamun's stablemates Last Stand and Henry The Navigator are also being prepared for this year's jumping season.

"I've got three jumpers ready to go but I'm just waiting for a break in the weather," Scott said.

"All mine will appreciate a bit of give in the tracks. I'm in no real hurry to start them before the break."

Arkamun has won two of his 18 flat starts.

IN-FORM jockey Josh Cartwright will miss eight meetings from February 27 after pleading guilty to a careless riding charge at Warrnambool last Thursday.

The suspension relates to his ride on the Symon Wilde-trained Irish Delight.

Stewards found that Cartwright shifted out near the 500 metre mark to improve his position and doing so made contact with Sailors Falls carrying that horse wider on the course, resulting in Written In Rouge being hampered and jockey Zac Spain having to change course to avoid the heels of Sailors Falls.

Cartwright's suspension ends midnight, March 5.

The stewards took into account Cartwright's guilty plea and his recent riding record and considered the incident to be in the low range before handing down the penalty.

Cartwright had ridden the Wilde-trained Britannicus to victory before he was suspended at Warrnambool.

Fellow jockey Jason Maskiell will also be on the sidlelines after he pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge. Maskiell is out for nine meetings. His time out starts February 27 and ends midnight, March 7.

WARRNAMBOOL trained Adelaide Ace could be interstate bound after his win in the Group 2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield on Saturday.

Adelaide Ace, with John Allen in the saddle, beat Nonconformist and Legion Of Merit.

Trainer Lindsey Smith said he will weigh up his options for the lightly raced three-year-old over coming days.

"I thought it was a strong win," Smith said.

"We could look at races like the South Australian Derby in April or the Western Australia Derby.

"We'll just wait and see how he pulls up before making any firm plans for his future autumn runs."

From his seven starts, Adelaide Ace has won four races.

MELBOURNE will play host to the 39th Asian Racing Conference in 2022.

It's the first time that the city has been selected to host the week-long conference.

More than 600 delegates from 30 countries are expected to attend the event from February 15-20, 2022.

Racing Victoria chairman Brian Kruger said it was a great honour for Melbourne to host the conference for the first time since Australia became an official Asian Racing Federation member in 1961.

"We are delighted to be granted hosting rights for the 2022 Asian Racing Conference which is a glowing endorsement of Victoria's standing in world racing," Kruger said.

"Hosting the conference is a responsibility we don't take lightly, and we will be ensuring that the next two years are put to good use in building an exceptional event program.

"It will be a unique opportunity to bring global leaders in our sport to Melbourne to discuss, share and learn how we can continue to grow and drive racing forward globally.

"We also look forward to showcasing the very best of Victorian racing and the opportunity for the international delegates to experience our great state."