Racing: Stable change may pay off for Dwindle Mist

Dwindle Mist, seen here driven by Phil Williamson in his own colours last year, is now trained by...
Dwindle Mist, seen here driven by Phil Williamson in his own colours last year, is now trained by son Nathan Williamson at Ryal Bush. Photo by Matt Smith
It has worked for Jag's Invasion, and Dwindle Mist is the next trotter who could benefit from a move to Nathan Williamson's Ryal Bush stables.

The daughter of Sundon had looked more than capable in her 11 starts with Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson, winning two and placing another five times in her first few campaigns.

But Williamson, who part-owns the mare, decided the 6yr-old needed a new lease on life and offered her to oldest son Nathan to train.

''She was causing Dad a couple of headaches,'' Nathan Williamson said.

''She wasn't finishing off her races, and she wasn't looking particularly great in her coat.

''She's come down here for a bit of a change and it seems that has freshened her up, and she seems to be working quite well.''

Dwindle Mist's first start for Williamson junior was at Gore on October 11, when she went round to lead before tiring in the closing stages and fading to seventh.

Williamson expects further improvement from the mare tonight in the c1-c3 trot, where she starts off the 10m mark alongside Snow Boy and Glendaloch.

''She does a bit of swimming and changed her scenery round a bit. Hopefully, that can lead to her running better races.''

That's exactly what's happened with Jag's Invasion, who put in a booming run for second behind Stent in the group 3 Flying Mile at Ashburton on Monday.

He moved south from Oamaru to Ryal Bush for the option of swimming in the covered bungy pool at the Ryal Bush stables of Ben and Karen Calder, where Williamson trains from.

''He's a nice horse when he can put it all together, so we were happy with the way he went,'' he said.

''We just know that if we got the horse there, and he's well on the day, he can put in a good run.

Cup Week now looms for Jag's Invasion, with the group 1 trotting free-for-all the first aim, followed by the Dominion on Show Day.

''Getting him there in that form, we'll just keep working on that and see how he goes. He'll be in both of them at this stage.''

The other Williamson-trained runner tonight is Sue Me (race 3), who kept the wolves at bay with a much-improved third behind Lookofalegend on Sunday.

''She went OK. She got a nice run and just battled away gamely.

''Hopefully, she can get it right on Thursday night and she's an each-way chance.''

While Williamson would prefer to see her over 2700m rather than tonight's distance of 2200m, he is just pleased she has moved on from her bad behaviour at Gore earlier this month where she galloped twice.

''I don't know what got under her bonnet at Gore. She wasn't that worked up either. She's actually quite a nice pacer, I don't know why she did that, so we'll just put that down to experience.''

Williamson's two outside drives are Xmas In New York (race 4) and Noah Flying C C (race 6) and Williamson thinks the latter could surprise in what appears to be an even maiden field.

''He's been a bit of a handful so far, but I think he's got the ability if he gets things right, so he could be a blowout chance,'' he said.

''It doesn't look an overly strong field on paper, although you never know what those races can throw up. He's probably a horse with enough ability that's got to get it right on the day.''

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