Premiership pair have plenty of chances

Last season’s Southland harness racing premiership trainers Nathan Williamson and Brett Gray look to have plenty of winning chances at the Riverton Trotting Club meeting at the Central Southland Raceway on Friday.

In Race One Williamson has two runners, both having their first start.

Flying Ellie (Art Major) has drawn gate three in a small field of just six runners.

“(She’s a) nice filly and what’s she’s done at the workouts and trials we have been pleased with. Raceday is always a step up but we’re quite happy with her at this stage,” Williamson said.

Major Envy (Art Major) is Williamson’s second runner.

“She and Flying Ellie have done a lot of their training together and there’s not a lot between them. It’ll come down to whatever comes down in the running. They’re both nice fillies and they’re having this race on Friday to prepare for the Caduceus Club of Southland Fillies Classic next Saturday.”

Brett Gray’s runner in the first is Always Ticking (Always B Miki) and she’ll race in Robert and Sharyn Symon’s colours.

“Robert purchased her off Dave Thompson in Christchurch. We don’t know too much about her but she went nice at the workouts and she trialled well when we trialled to buy her. She’s still a bit green and I think she’ll get better with each run.”

In Race Two Gray lines up the out of form Girlshavtime (Art Major) 

“She’s gone good at the workouts and we were disappointed with her at Gore on the grass. We’ve put a chock plate on her because we think her air was being cut off. Her run will be interesting.”

Connie Jaccka (Always B Miki) fronts up for the Gray barn in Race Three.

“She got left out three wide and parked on the grass at Gore. She’s not the worst this mare, but she’ll probably take a couple of starts before she starts clicking.”

In the $12,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Gold Chip Final, last start winner Julie Jaccka (Father Patrick) gets her chance to add to her good formline for Gray.

“She had a cold at her last start and it was touch and go as to whether we were going to line her up. It seems to have cleared up and I’ve been happy with her work. She’s my best value bet.”

Nathan Williamson is very confident about Hurricane Hendrix (Rock N Roll Heaven) in Race Six. He mixed his gait at Addington in his last start and was relegated to sixth.

“He was suffering from a couple of small niggles from his Christchurch trip. He’s been treated and I was really happy with his trial last week. He was pretty impressive. I think he’ll take all sorts of beating and I’d be very surprised if he did get beaten on Friday.”

Gray lines up Meohmymartini (American Ideal) in the same race and her formline is not inspiring.

“We’ve had problems with her and she didn’t really handle the grass track. She’s got troubles with her hocks, but we think we’ve got things sorted out – we’re about to find out.”

In the SSBA Southern Belle Speed Series heat Gray has the highest assessed and likely favourite Joes Rock (Racing Hill).

“She’s been racing super. She’s better over distance than a mile and she has a good chance in that race.”

In Race Ten Williamson starts Ultimate Challenge (Bettor’s Delight) whose three year old debut run was a shade disappointing.

“We did some tests afterwards and we found that she was suffering from a virus. We’ve given her an easy time and I was pleased with her trial when she ran second to Hurricane Hendrix. It’s quite a hard ask for a three year old filly against some of the battle hardened horses in this race. She’s got enough talent but whatever she does she’ll keep improving.”

Gray has McLean (Sportswriter) in this race. He has excellent form including a last start win.

“He’s been racing well without a lot of luck. He got a bit of luck last start. He’s got another bad draw but there’s no reason why he won’t go well again.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink