Racing: Gate speed advantage for gelding

Matthew Williamson
Matthew Williamson
Matthew Williamson is heading back home to Oamaru to see if his hot holiday driving form can carry over to the Oamaru Harness Racing Club meeting tonight.

The twilight meeting gives Williamson eight chances to add to the eight wins he had between Christmas Day and Tuesday's meeting at Cromwell.

The 24-year-old steered home winners at Gore and Winton before scoring doubles at Omakau, Roxburgh and Wyndham, to leave him sitting fourth on the national drivers' premiership with 38 wins.

Williamson put his recent wins down to the horses rather than his own talents.

''It's better horse flesh, I suppose, over Christmas,'' Williamson said.

''Dad sets his team for this time of year so it's worked out good.''

Williamson will again team up with his father, Phil, for two drives behind Jag's Son (race 2) and Mokosun (race 6), but believes Boomer Bailey (race 4) should take some beating.

The Graeme Telfer-trained gelding seems to have found his feet and is capable of overcoming his awkward barrier draw of 7 in the 2000m c0 mobile pace.

The 4yr-old has the advantage of being a race winner in a maiden field after winning a penalty-free invited drivers' race at the Brothers In Arms series in Oamaru last month.

Boomer Bailey, seen here winning at Oamaru last month for Jay Abernethy, is Matthew Williamson's...
Boomer Bailey, seen here winning at Oamaru last month for Jay Abernethy, is Matthew Williamson's best chance for tonight's twilight meeting at the same venue. Photo by Matt Smith.
''He's going really good and should be hard to beat,'' he said.

''He's got good gate speed and things like that, so should be a really good chance.''

Jag's Son has suffered a crisis of confidence after breaking at both Omakau and Roxburgh, and Williamson's main ambition with the 3yr-old is a smooth trip throughout.

''He's a funny wee horse. He's got enough ability to win races, but he's just got to get his head around it,'' he said.

''He's on the unruly, so hopefully he trots the whole way. If he trots the whole way, he'll be running on.''

Mokosun has been mainly solid with his manners, other than a break at Winton two starts back, but it's the business end of the c2 and faster 2600m trot that worries his driver.

''He's been a tad disappointing but, in saying that, they went a track record last start and he did a bit of work,'' Williamson said.

''It might even be a drop back from what he's been racing, so he should be an each-way chance anyway.

''He's a good beginner, so that's not too big a worry - it's just how he goes on the day.''

Igottastar (race 3) has run a third and a second in her two starts to date, and Williamson said the draw of 3 should suit her perfectly.

Baby Fern (race 1) is a place chance, provided she does not hang during the running like she did at Cromwell, while Alexy (race 10) is the best place hope of his other three drives.

Add a Comment