Four months ago, Tim Williams was left with a difficult decision to make.
The 25-year-old Cantabrian was carving out a niche in Southland, regularly driving winners for Wayne Adams and several other southern trainers.
But when Mark Purdon came calling with a job offer, Williams opted to up sticks and head back home to his home province.
That decision was vindicated beyond any doubt yesterday when Williams and Have Faith In Me combined to win the group 1 Sires Stakes final in New Zealand-record time.
The race - which was run 1sec faster than Stunin Cullen's 2008 time of 2.18.3 - was not without drama, when leader and hype horse Hughie Green ducked in under pressure in the straight and ran up the banking by the greyhound track.
It seemed Have Faith In Me had him covered anyway, and Williams was left to soak in his first group 1 win.
He recalls coming to New Zealand Cup day in 2005 when his former employer, Robert Dunn, won the cup with Mainland Banner, but driving in a feature race on the second Tuesday in November is a whole different story.
''For the last couple of years, I've been watching Dexter [Dunn] in it,'' Williams said.
''I haven't actually been to Cup Day for the last couple of years since I've been down south. So just to get back to have drives on Cup Day is big.
''I wouldn't have thought it would happen to me.''
Have Faith In Me caught the eye at Forbury Park in early October, flashing home for second to Art Union in the Sires' Stakes heat, and Williams believes that performance was the turning point.
''He races pretty good and he's a genuine follower of a good clip. He relaxes so good during the running too. Nothing's a bother to him.
''He's been good to me so far, so we're getting there.''
