Williamson doubles down

Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson’s golden run continued at Addington last night when both Jimmy Carter (The Pres) and Atlantic City (Volstead) won their races.

Last Friday Becky’s Girl and Tarragindi won for the the stable and between times Our Pinocchio was successful on Thursday at the Forbury Park meeting.

Atlantic City was patiently handled by Ricky May who settled the filly back in the field before he set her rolling as they came out of the last bend. Once the three year old balanced up she came down the middle of the track to score by two and a quarter lengths from Bullit Train.

ATLANTIC CITY REPLAY

“I was really thrilled with how she went. She’s got lovely manners and we’re proud of her for a horse that’s only had eight starts. She’s a big girl who’s matured,” Williamson said.

Owned by Peter and Janet Argus, the win was Atlantic City’s third and she’ll now be put on ice to await age group races later in the season.

“Outside of my rating horses, that’s what most of my team are doing now. Those nicer ones, you just have to be a bit more careful with them. You just can’t go around every week because you don’t want to hurt them racing against the faster class ones.” 

It was a good night for the Argus’s. They bred Mikis Pride which won at Gloucester Park last night.

Atlantic City’s long term goal is the Group One New Zealand Trotting Oaks in November.

“And the Southern Oaks. They’ll be really good races because there’s a few nice fillies around. Brad (Williamson) has three contenders and I’ve got another filly, Have A Little Faith. The Hopes and Dunns have a few, so the numbers are numerically strong which will help.”

The night just wasn’t all about the young ones, with ten year old Jimmy Carter adding to his rich vein of form by winning his twentieth race in the hands of Ashburton reinsman John Morrison.

Morrison has struck up a great relationship with Jimmy Carter, having now driven him in eight of his wins.

Starting off the back mark of twenty metres Morrison settled the gelding back in the field before he ventured forward to take up the running with a lap to run.

At the line he was too strong, holding out Zolton Boscik by three quarters of a length with Paige a neck away in third.

JIMMY CARTER REPLAY

“He’s a lovely old horse who’s earned over $300,000. He’s worked right through the grades, had a lot of racing and probably in a third of them he’s galloped and taken very little part. He’s ended up winning ten at Addington which I’m proud of. He’s racing as good as he ever has and is enjoying it a bit more now. He’s like a thoroughbred and used to get nervous. A bit fragile, and I had to be a bit careful with him through those early years. He’s reaping the benefits of that and now he’s racing as good as ever.”

Both Williamson and Morrison are closing in on major milestones. The win was Phil’s 799^th training win and Morrison’s 391^st driving success.

Meanwhile Atlantic City’s full sister Empire City is in the ‘holding pen’ at the moment.

“We’ll keep her ticking over at the trials and make sure she’s rock hard fit for when she races in the open grade. We’ll give her some standing start practice and she’ll race in those lead up races before Cup Week.”

Last start winner Tarragindi is also on hold.

“We’ve got to be a bit careful with him. He’s promising, but still has manners concerns.”

The promising two year old filly Becky’s Girl who won on debut had been sent south to spell.

“All my two year olds have gone down to Debbie and Mark Smith’s (Myross Bush) and are getting some fresh green grass. They’ll have a good six weeks off. I’ll continue to race them later in the season. Becky’s Girl is a nice filly and I think she’ll be competitive with the better ones.”

Williamson says Love N The Port is over his minor injury woes and is building towards a return to the racetrack.

“He’s trialling and will race in those nice trotting races coming up, like the Ordeal Cup and Banks Peninsula Cup. He’s had a good deep preparation after he had surgery to remove a bone chip. He’ll continue to trial quietly and I’m really happy with him at the moment. I think he’s probably as good as he’s ever been.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink