Racing: Williams seeking to make Hay with trio

Jack's Run is a winning hope with clear racing room at Oamaru today. Photo by Matt Smith.
Jack's Run is a winning hope with clear racing room at Oamaru today. Photo by Matt Smith.

Kylie Williams.
Kylie Williams.
A trio of Jan Hay-trained horses gives Kylie Williams plenty of chances to get back into a winning groove at Oamaru today.

Williams has six rides at the Otago Racing Club meeting, which was moved from Wingatui to Oamaru Racecourse last week due to issues with the Wingatui track.

The Rolleston-based jockey takes the reins behind Tipilk (race 4), Jack's Run (race 6) and Propitious (race 7) and all three runners hold winning claims in their events.

Tipilk has looked very comfortable in the South Island in her two runs since coming south.

The Volksraad mare is well placed to back up her winning run at Timaru on March 19 after her South Island debut at Ashburton six days earlier yielded a second placing.

''We got held up a wee bit, but the next start we led and she did that really easily,'' Williams said.

''She hasn't had a run for a while, but I don't think that will worry her. Jan will have them competitive no matter what.''

The track was rated as dead5 yesterday afternoon, and the 4yr-old would not want the track to get any softer.

''I don't think Jan wants the track too wet, so hopefully they're not getting too much rain,'' she said.

''She'll just bounce out and go forward and get a roll on down the hill and hopefully they won't be able to catch her.''

Williams was almost glad to see a 10-horse field for the rating 85 1400m after running into trouble with Jack's Run in a small field at Wingatui on April 9.

''A five-horse field is normally the worst field to ride in because everything goes wrong,'' she said.

''I was in the trail and Norah was on the outside of me so had a clear passage to get going. I got held up and then got checked halfway up the straight and had to go again, and Norah's gone. He found the line nicely, so hopefully, if I can find some clear air, he'll go good.

''[Norah] got her way last start and she won but I think Jack's got a wee bit more than Norah.''

Hay's other runner, Propitious, is in a fresh state for today's 1200m maiden assignment, but has performed at Oamaru in a similar state before.

''If there's a bit of sting out of the track, that will definitely suit her. She'll be looking for more ground in her future races, but she'll still go a cheeky race.''

Williams has two challenging horses to deal with today, starting with Seeking Redemption in the rating 65 2200m.

''He's just so lazy and you think you're going nowhere, then all of a sudden in the last 100m he gets going again,'' she said.

''If he actually put it all together, he would easily win, but he's a bit of a cunning bugger.''

The Steven Prince-trained Ivanskavinskyskvar falls into the same category in the rating 65 1600m, although blinkers going on might help him switch on.

''He's another one that's a bit cunning and tries to get out of a few things.

''He went really good at Dunedin and then last start I was a shade disappointed with him.''

Williams also rides Them Or Us for Prince and expects the addition of cheek burrs will help.

''He's got the pricker on this time because he just lays out around the corners and he's a big green horse, so hopefully that will keep him on track.''

 


Tips from the talent

• Courtney Barnes: Hurikin (Race 6, No 4) - ''He's pretty consistent and it looks like he tries hard.''

Toni Direen: Forever Vital (Race 9, No 7) - ''Her work was good on Monday and the speed in the race will suit her.''


 

 

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