Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson turned around the form of Invercargill winners Bet's Sun and Mokosun on Sunday and their driver thinks they have more wins to come.
The two Sundon trotters had a combined record of one placing in their past 14 starts before their victories.
Bet's Sun was the first to change that by winning Sunday's opening race by more than 14 lengths.
The Sundon gelding put aside his galloping tendencies to show racegoers the potential his driver, Matthew Williamson, knew he had.
''He's got a big motor,'' Williamson said.
The brother to eight-win mare Bet's Best had been labelled a ''trials specialist'' within the stable before Sunday's win. Bet's Sun had won seven and placed in four of 11 trial starts.
He had been unable to bring that form to race day until Sunday due to galloping.
Williamson is hopeful the horse will continue to show better manners and fulfil his potential, which Williamson thinks could enable him to score more wins as he continues to race through autumn and winter.
Three races later, the Williamsons produced another Sundon gelding to win.
Mokosun was having his first start for the Oamaru trainer after being purchased by Invercargill owner Art Shirley.
Shirley negotiated the purchase of the former trainer Craig Laurenson-trained trotter and then syndicated shares among friends, he said.
Matthew Williamson endorsed that decision after the gelding's win on Sunday.
''He's a good buy,'' he said.
Mokosun won easily by over a length despite being off the bit around the 600m mark.
''I thought I was gone down the back,'' Williamson said.
The trotter will compete at Forbury Park on Thursday and will continue to race into winter. Williamson believes the gelding has the ability to carry on Sunday's form.
''Hopefully, he's got another win in him.''
The Williamson stable's open-class trotter, Springbank Sam, leaves tomorrow for Auckland, where the runner-up in the group 1 Rowe Cup has the race on his programme again.
Being left outside the leader in the New Zealand Trotting Championship did not suit Springbank Sam's preferred sit-sprint style of racing last Friday. Williamson thinks the gelding will be competitive in Auckland with a more economical run.
''With the right run we're hoping he can go well,'' he said.
- Jonny Turner
