Favourite tag right on the money

The favourite tag was right on the money when first starter Harry Stamper – trained and driven by Phil Williamson, won on his harness racing debut at Winton today.

It was a great result for Phil and his wife Bev, especially since Bev bred both the winner and runner up Dwindle Star, both being out of the eight-win Sundon mare Dwindle Mist.

Harry Stamper warming up for Phil Williamson

“He’s a thick set wee fella but I think that’s a Majestic Son thing. He’s always been a good-looking horse right from when he was a foal and he’s developed into a reasonable racehorse,” Phil said.

The two-year-old trotter carried most of the TAB win pool after impressing at trials, including a good second behind smart filly Minnie McGoogan.

Williamson was impressed with the way Harry Stamper managed his first raceday start, showing a fair amount of maturity.

“He had every reason to gallop at the start. Westland Peak swung across in front of us and I thought the starter would have said false start.”

After a slow beginning Harry Stamper settled seventh some thirty lengths off tearaway pacemaker Pyramid Mystic. Inside the last 800 metres the gaps closed and Williamson pushed the two-year-old out three wide and asked him to improve with his stablemate Dwindle Star right on his tail.

Turning in Harry Stamper got past Pyramid Mystic and held on to beat Dwindle Star by a neck with Cheeky Monkey charging home for third.

Harry Stamper beats Dwindle Star

Back to the birdcage

The time of 3-10.8 was a new Southland and track record for two year old trotters over 2400 metres from the stand. The previous record of 3-16.0 was set by Ironman twenty seven years ago.

Harry Stamper is named after an oil driller in the 1998 American science fiction movie Armageddon which starred Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck. There was a line in the movie that resonated with Williamson.

“The son in-law to be, told the boss fella of the oil rig, ‘the great Harry Stamper – all good no quit’ and I thought that was a great line. So that’s how he got his name.”

Williamson was also pleased with the run of Dwindle Mist.

“She’s a nice mare, lovely manners, very solid and I think she’ll do a good job.”

The Williamson team nearly bagged the trifecta with Pyramid Mystic running fourth after leading and breaking twice.

“She was pretty green. She’s been good round the trials at home but it’s a bit different when it’s race day on a different track. I’d say she’ll gets things right fairly quickly. I don’t expect that to continue.”

View the Winton results click here!

by Bruce Stewart