Sand Wave seals shared premiership

After a tight battle, Branxholme harness racing trainer Nathan Williamson is happy to share the Southland Trainers Premiership with good mate Brett Gray.

At Gore today both were sitting on thirty five wins and Gray was the first on the board when Cool Phelan (Pegasus Spur) won the Jaccka Lodge Trot.

However, in race eleven Williamson produced hot favourite Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) to score. The premiership remained at a tie as neither trainer had a runner in the last race, so the title is shared.

“Unless Brett takes a horse to Reefton, we share the title. Tell him I’m taking one there,” Williamson joked soon after winning with Sand Wave.

From barrier eight in the Cardrona Distillery/MLT Three Year Old Stakes Williamson took the three year old straight to the lead.

Coming down the straight the large crowd began to get anxious as Step It Up A Notch (Rock N Roll Heaven) challenged the hot favourite.

“You just have to keep at him. We talked about it before the Supremacy. He’s not a good leader at all and he waits on them. It wasn’t until Bondy’s horse headed him that he got a go on, but he was pretty strong through the line. He’ll have a wee freshen now and we may look at going down the Country Cups route with him.”

The winning time of 2-15.5 smashed the previous track record of 2-19.3 held for three years by Captain Starlight (Changeover).

SAND WAVE REPLAY

It was Sand Wave’s sixth win for the season. He’s also had a handful of placings against some quality racehorses including a third in the Group One New Zealand Pacing Derby behind Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) and Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) and a second to Republican Party in the Listed Sophomore Classic at Ashburton.

He’s also the province’s leading stake earner for the 2022 season with $116,525. Followed by Joes Rock (Roll With Joe) $52,125, Tommy Waterhouse (American Ideal) $48,965 and Tairlaw Toll (Somebeachsomewhere) $46,940.

“He’s a super wee horse and everyone is fond of him. He’s just a lovely horse to have around and as you saw today, he just does what he has to but he’s pretty good at getting the job done.”

On the Premiership front Williamson has now won the title for six seasons (2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2022) while Gray has his name on the Trainers Premiership three times; 2017, 2018 and 2022. 

The Southland Trainers Premiership has been shared a number of times. Murray Brown and Tony Barron (2000), Murray Brown and Hamish Hunter (2006) and Brendon McLellan, Kirk Larsen and Hamish Hunter (2007).

In an interesting twist to both the Southland and National Trainers Premiership, Ohoka Connar (Sunshine Beach) was sold out of Brett Gray’s stable to Stonewall Stud on the 22nd of December. The buyers were Steve and Amanda Telfer. Ohoka Connor duly won at Winton two days later for his new stable.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink