Williamson well placed to add to driving tally

Brad Williamson.
Brad Williamson.
Brad Williamson has forged his reputation with the trotters, but the pacing trainers have been giving him plenty of chances in his first season as an open driver.

Williamson (22) has nine wins after just 65 drives this season and could push that tally up a notch or two when he takes five drives at Forbury Park tonight.

Williamson's wins this season have come behind four trotters and five pacers. Four trainers have provided Williamson with his five pacing wins.

''It's probably been better than I expected, to be honest,'' he said.

''I've been driving a lot more pacers this season for other people than I thought I would. It's good to be given a few more opportunities.''

One of those opportunities is behind the Murray Swain-trained 3yr-old Jayedgar in race 2.

Tonight's c0 2200m mobile pace presents a challenge for Williamson and the Art Official gelding, as he is drawn on the outside of the second line.

''He was a pretty good 2yr-old and they thought enough of him to take him to Addington to try and compete up there,'' he said.

''With a bit of a spell, you would think he would come back a nicer horse. He's going to have to put in a pretty big run to win from that draw though.''

Jayedgar's main threats, Four Starzzz Special and Dan Bilzerian, have drawn 1 and 2 respectively.

Williamson's concerns about the barrier draw with Don't Look Back in the c1 trot are not so pressing.

Don't Look Back has drawn the outside of the trotters not on the unruly, but manners will be a big part of her likely popularity in the betting market tonight.

''Her manners are really good. She seems to be going as good as what she can, and I think she's a chance.''

The Doug Gillespie-trained mare was a tidy fourth fresh-up at Timaru on October 9 and has more form in her last five starts than most of her rivals.

''She had a bit of a spell which she needed as she was racing quite a bit in the winter, and she seems to have come back a better horse.

''In a race with no standouts, she's one you could see popping up there.''

Feather Boyz starts off 40m alongside Kowhai Whiz and Pyramid Magic in the c2-c6 trot. With no trotters between them and the 10m mark, traffic issues should not be a factor early in the 2700m trip.

''That won't be a problem with any of those horses off 40m,'' he said.

''If they do step well, you would think they don't have to do any work for the rest of the race.

''It's a decent way back, but he's won off these handicaps before and he goes well at Forbury.''

Go Exclusive (race 3) will need to have improved from its sixth on debut, and About Last Night (race 1) must step away to be a factor, after breaking on debut at Forbury Park on October 6.

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