Racing: Leading junior out to widen the gap

Brad Williamson
Brad Williamson
Brad Williamson heads home to Oamaru today with a firm grasp on the junior drivers' premiership.

But the 21-year-old is not resting on his laurels as he eyes up the remaining seven months in the 2015-16 season.

Williamson is on 33 wins after five months of the season, double that of Craig Ferguson in second place on 16.

Kyle Marshall and Jessica Young are sharing third on 13 wins, with Rory McIlwrick just behind them on 12.

Williamson has no interest in just maintaining the buffer.

‘‘I'll be trying to increase it - that's the goal,'' he said.

‘‘The further I can get away from Craig, Rory and all those good juniors, the better.''

Williamson has already matched his career-best season of 32 wins in 2013-14, which he credits to more opportunities and the top form of the trotters prepared by his father, Phil.

‘‘I haven't had too many drives I thought could have won that haven't, so we've had really good luck,'' Williamson said.

‘‘When Dad has set them for races that he thinks they can win just recently, they've all been winning.

‘‘I'm driving a lot more of Dad's horses than I was last year, which is making a massive difference to the amount of winners I've had. With their support, it's really helped.''

The father-son combination could be to the fore again on their home track.

Phil Williamson's three trotters all look like strong winning chances, starting with Alderbeck in race 2.

The 3yr-old filly caught the eye with her fourth at Roxburgh, and Brad Williamson said she would only get better with racing.

‘‘She'll take a few starts before she comes to it so a bit of racing should be her friend,'' Williamson said.

‘‘If she gets a couple of wins as a 3yr-old, we'll be rapt with her.''

The c0 2600m trot is not blessed with too many form runners and Williamson expects Alderbeck will be first or second favourite.

‘‘She probably deserves to be, on her run the other day,'' he said.

‘‘The distance won't be a problem, and the way she was running on in the last 200m the other day suggests she will be better for the run. It's probably a weaker maiden than Roxburgh the other day, as well.''

Heard The Whisper (race 6) has the 20m mark all to himself in the c2 and faster trot, and provided his manners are in place, he should continue his fine run of form in recent starts.‘‘He's just going great guns at the moment.

‘‘He's got a nice 400m sprint in him so that should take him a long way. If he steps away good, I definitely think he's a good chance of winning that race.''

Royal Kenny was a winner on debut at Omakau, and Williamson suggests punters follow their money with the progressive mare.

‘‘She just needs to trot away from the stand, which is something she hasn't had a lot of practice at. If she's safe away, she should give them a pretty good shake. She's a tough mare.''

 

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