Davey's Gift may need to adjust from his traditional front-running role when he lines up at Gore on Saturday after his second career win came at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
The son of Sundon proved a head-scratcher for his breeder and West Melton trainer Michael Ward, who eked just one placing out of the gelding before sending him to Oamaru trainer Phil Willimson earlier this year.
Williamson was a good choice for Davey's Gift, as it is a breed he and his wife Bev know well.
Davey's Gift's name - along with his mother's name - give a massive hint to the breeding lines.
He is out of Jasmyn's Sister, a half-sister to the Williamsons-bred Jasmyn's Gift, who won the group 1 New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all in 2006.
Driver Matthew Williamson opted to jump out of his trailing position midway through the race and took over the lead with Davey's Gift before pulling away to win five lengths.
''We'd done a bit down through the straight there and I thought he'd be better off in front,'' Matthew Williamson said.
''He won good in front the other day so I though I'd take luck out of it a bit.''
Davey's Gift trotted clear with 500m to go, which was Williamson's way of negating Davey's Gift habit of waiting for the field.
''He pulled up a bit in front, so I thought he'd be better off rolling along.''
Williamson said the step up will test the 6yr-old, but ''in saying that, he's getting better and better''.
''He won easy tonight. I didn't even pull the earplugs.
''He should definitely step up to the next grade.''
Davey's Gift is nominated for the c1-c3 2700m junior drivers' trot, and will start off 10m, along with stablemate The Silver Fox.
Another Williamson trotter, Alexandra Leaving, will start off the front.
Canterbury junior driver Stevie Golding will drive Davey's Gift and Brad Williamson will take the reins behind The Silver Fox.
Alexandra Leaving will provide Oamaru junior driver Jared Ovens with his second race-day drive, after his first drive came at Forbury Park behind Poshs Blue Chippie last week.
Saturday's meeting also marks the debut of Hengroen, who qualified at Forbury Park in November last year.
The Majestic Son 4yr-old, owned by Phil and Matthew Williamson and Alan Mason, beat Starlight Starbright by seven lengths at the Oamaru trials on September 27.
