Canterbury horseman Tim Williams showed punters at Forbury Park last night why he is one of the country's most in-form reinsmen with a daring front-running drive to win with Archman.
Williams set up an exciting spectacle when he was happy to let the Geoff and Jude Knight-trained pacer stride along up to six lengths in front of the field during the middle stages of the final race.
What seemed an audacious plan at the 1000m looked like perfect placement when the rest of the field could not reel Archman in at the finish.
The tactics surprised the Knights, but there were no complaints.
"We weren't expecting things to work out like that," Geoff Knight said.
Williams is second in the national drivers premiership behind Ricky May who won with the John Hay-trained Motu Hot Topic.
Archman had returned a stronger horse after spelling at the end of a solid 3yr-old campaign, Knight said.
"He is a really nice horse and he is going to go a bit further."
The Knights are considering starting the horse in the South Of The Waitaki race on Show Day at Addington.
Archman's owner, Judy Dillon, is not the only Northern Southlander who might need to book tickets for the cup carnival.
Oamaru trotter Springbank Lachie booked his trip there thanks to a strong front-running win for trainer Phil Williamson and junior driver Charlotte Purvis.
It brought relief for Springbank Lachie's owners, Alistair and Denise Smith.
The gelding last won as a 2yr-old at Addington in April last year.
Williamson said Springbank Lachie suffered a series of setbacks last season when he was up against the country's best trotters.
Champion Western Australian pacer Chicago Bull has his first race in New Zealand since the 2015 Harness Jewels at Alexandra Park tonight.
The Gary Hall sen-trained gelding, bred and sold by the Price family of Winton, will have a crucial hit-out in preparation for the November 13 New Zealand Cup in a 2200m handicap.
"I don't really like the idea of a 20m back mark over the 2200m," his driver, Gary Hall jun, said.
"It could make he race really tricky and it is also his first standing start, so while I'd be surprised if he blew it, he could settle last.
"That means we could be chasing for a while in his first start right-handed so there are a few things against us." - additional reporting NZME
