For Tim Williams, it only took two days before he called Mark Purdon back to confirm he would be moving back home to Christchurch by the end of this month.
Williams (24) has been based in Southland for the past two seasons as stable driver for Invercargill trainer Wayne Adams.
Williams has some experience driving for Purdon in the past, including steering Messini to a Kindergarten Stakes win last year, but he was not expecting Purdon's call halfway through last month.
''I got a phone call out of the blue, really, a fortnight ago - I was on my way to Forbury,'' Williams said.
''Blair [Orange] was leaving and he was looking for someone to fill that role. Obviously with the volume of horses he has, he needs someone at home as well who can help with the number of horses - especially with the travel that they'll be doing.''
Williams joins a strong team as Purdon and co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen are already assisted by former North Taieri horseman Ross Payne, who carved out an impressive training career in Australia before returning to New Zealand this season.
''It'll take a wee bit to mould in there and they'll do a lot of [driving] themselves, especially on the better ones, but with the amount of horses that they're going to have, there's still going to be a good opportunity.
''It was too good to turn down, really.''
Williams did have to put some thought into Purdon's offer as he weighed up the great support he had received from Adams in the past two years.
''I put it to Wayne and said to him that I'd had the offer and talked about it with him and Mum and Dad.
''I gave it a couple of days then got back to Mark and told him I'll be taking the job - it's a good chance to come home.
''[Adams] has been a massive help - I've made it a little bit hard for Wayne, as I've put him in a tricky position. But he was understanding that Christchurch is home and I was planning to go home at some stage.
''I didn't quite plan on it being quite this soon, but for the right opportunity, it's changed things.''
Adams and Williams have forged an impressive combination, collecting 35 wins in two seasons with Williams in the sulky.
''It's been enjoyable for the fact of what Wayne offered me and what he provided - he's given me a massive leg up into the driving side of things down here, which was the reason for the shift.
''Especially in the first year out of junior [driving], a lot of people struggle to get the regular drives. If I had stayed in Christchurch, I probably would have been in the same boat - second in line everywhere I was looking.''
Williams has particularly enjoyed wins with Southern Delight (three wins), Brindy (four wins) and Luminesce (three wins) out of the Adams stable.
Williams hopes to be back in Christchurch by the end of this month and starting at the Rolleston stable for the new season next month.
