Paul Williams claims a 12th King Island Pacing Cup

The 2023 C.U.B King Island Pacing Cup is one trainer-driver Paul Williams won’t forget.

Not only was it his 12th Cup winner, but he also landed the trifecta in King Island’s premier harness race.

Heston Blue Chip gelding Tisu Storm was the outsider of his stable trio, but proved too strong late, defeating the more fancied Rocknroll Nitro by 1.2m with Alkatraz a nose away third.

The trio were 12m clear of the remainder of the field at the end of the 2438m race.

Williams positioned Tisu Storm outside the leader soon after the start, before ending up one-out and one-back near the crossing at the 1100m, before making his winning move at the 650m.

“It was a big thrill,” said Paul about the win.

“That was only his fifth start, and last week he was up on the steel and was travelling well before he shied around the home turn and ruined his chances.

“But coming down the hill (in the cup), he was travelling well, and I knew I was going to be right in it,” Paul explained.

Despite the achievement of the training trifecta, believed to be a first in the Pacing Cup, the celebrations for Paul were low-key.

“I had a quiet night at home. The grandkids are over, so I spent some time with them as they are only here for a few days, but the others went out and I sent a few dollars with them to have a drink,” said the retired mechanic.

King Island is situated 80km northwest of Tasmania’s mainland in the roaring forties of Bass Strait and is the nation’s and possibly the globe’s most remote track.

The King Island Racing Club is currently in the midst of its 131st season of racing, hosting seven meetings per season, with the days racing a combined card of thoroughbred and harness racing on the same turf track.

The remaining dates this season are;

• 14th January – King Island Recreational Day,
• 21st Maritime/Miners Rest Cup Day,
• 28th Southern Airlines Fly In Day.

The thoroughbred cup was also held on Monday, which Cianna won for trainer Ian Johnson and rider Jamie Gibbons.

Tasracing’s Peter Staples will have more on that galloper’s magnificent win on tasracing.com.au in due course.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing