Brad gets double

On a day dominated by the Williamson harness racing family Brad won the bragging rights by scoring a back to back double at Winton today.

Krackaling (What The Hill) in the hands of Kerryn Tomlinson started the roll. After sitting parked for the last 800 metres she was too tough for pacemaker Granny Rose (The Pres) driven by Matty Williamson and she won by a length and a quarter with Velocity Jet (Quaker Jet) and Nathan Williamson taking out third position.

Krackling was passed in for $20,000 at the 2021 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. Williamson and Gary Preston of All Things Racing struck a deal with the vendors Rosedale Farms, and purchased her.

“She was competitive as a two year old. At her second or third start she touched herself after galloping behind the gate. It was the night at Addington when the fire alarms went off. It was a disaster with horses running around the car park. She got herself so worked up and ended up galloping out of the gate which wasn’t like her. After that she also got an injury in one of her front legs so I had to give her a good break,” Williamson said.

All that has been put behind her and today’s win was the third in a row for the talented three year old filly.

“She’s good enough so the step up (in grade) won’t worry her because she’s going to end up pretty close to open grade anyway. If she remains consistent and her form stays we’ll have a bit of fun with her.”

Races like the Canterbury Spa and Pool Classique (G3), Southland Trotting Oaks and the New Zealand Trotting Oaks (G1) are races she could target.

Krackaling is out of Donegal Bettorgretch (Bettor’s Delight) which was bred to pace but won seven races trotting for Cran Dalgety including the Group One Three Year Old Ruby at Cambridge. Krackaling is her second foal.

“She wasn’t hard to syndicate. Gary who manages the All Things Harness Racing syndicate organised it all. As a two year old they were offered some pretty big money for her, we were going to sell. But she failed the vet. We haven’t had any issues with her, touch wood.”

Also purchased (for $17,500) by All Things Racing at the same sale and from the same vendor, Classic Mission (Vincent) won the next race. This was his maiden race and he was also in the capable hands of Tomlinson.

She had Classic Mission in front for most of the trip and held out the trailing horse Huki Fella (Lord Forbes) to win by a length.

The two wins edge Kerryn close to the 100 wins mark. She currently sits on ninety eight.

The Williamson family had wins with Black Pat (Phil), The Matriarch (Matty), Krackaling (Brad), Classic Mission (Brad) and Hidden Talent (Nathan). Four of their winners were hot favourites, all paying under $2.00 to win.

The day was not just a good one for the Williamson family but also for the Blue September Campaign with three drivers, Nathan Williamson, Matty Williamson and Mark Hurrell winning races for the cause.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink