Racing: Williamsons triumph with trotters

Driver Brad Williamson salutes as Springbank Sam (centre) beats Jag’s Invasion (driven by eldest...
Driver Brad Williamson salutes as Springbank Sam (centre) beats Jag’s Invasion (driven by eldest brother Nathan) and Monty Python (driven by older brother Matthew) at Omakau on Saturday. Photo by Matt Smith.
It was a day for the new and old for Oamaru trotting supremo Phil Williamson at Omakau on Saturday.

Firstly, he continued his fine run in the c0 mobile trot at Omakau, backing up wins with Zhenya (2014) and Springbank Eden (2015) with a classy victory on debut by Royal Kenny.

But you sense he derived even more satisfaction later in the day when Springbank Sam ended almost a year without a win when he won the feature trot in New Zealand record time.

Williamson and his wife, Bev, bred the 4yr-old, and son Brad drove the Majestic Son mare to complete the family link.

When Phil Williamson says a trotter is a ‘‘jolly nice horse'', you know it is a little better than average.

‘‘There's a bit of interest to buy her, but I'm reluctant to sell her,'' he said.‘‘She's pretty good. She's got a wee bit of that ‘what you need'.''

Brad Williamson said Royal Kenny had made plenty of progress since the winter.‘‘She's dramatically improved over the last six months.

‘‘She looks now like a really nice progressive horse that should thrive on racing.''

Her time of 2.29.6 was 2.6sec inside Zhenya's track record time, but Springbank Sam went one better with his national record time in the free-for-all trot.

Springbank Sam's last victory was in the group 3 Southern Lights at Ascot Park last January, and Phil Williamson was ‘‘pretty emotional'' about seeing the 8yr-old back in the winner's circle.

‘‘He's such a lovely horse to work with and a terrific horse. He's been a bit of an under-achiever, too -he's a hell of a good horse and it hasn't been going right, but we know how good he can be,'' he said.‘‘As long as he keeps his mojo like he is, we'll carry on.''

● Broadfield trainer Don Ross instantly apologised when the Otago Daily Times approached him after Mon Richie's win at Omakau.‘‘Sorry about letting you down at Forbury,'' Ross chuckled.

There was no need to apologise, of course - but there was a reason for the Monarchy 4yr-old racing slightly below Ross's expectations at Forbury Park in mid-December.

‘‘I don't know what was wrong with him, but he was just not right. He went home and about a week later he just perked up and never looked back, so I expected him to go pretty good today.''

The short time in the paddock after the Forbury Park third could explain Mon Richie's behaviour at Ashburton on Boxing Day as well. The gelding broke at the start and was well beaten.

‘‘He was just a bit fresh because we had backed up on him a bit,'' Ross said.

‘‘He'll keep going and he does things pretty right, he has a ton of speed, so he'll give us a bit of fun.''

 

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