Williamson says it’s mission impossible for Empire City

Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson is a great fan of trotting races for mares. Nevertheless he reckons it’ll be virtually impossible for his quality mare Empire City (Volstead) to win tomorrow’s $40,000 Group Three The Dark Horse at Ascot Park.

“I give her no chance. 30 metres is ridiculous, and I don’t mind saying it out loud. Over 2200 it’s mission impossible. Those horses are capable of running 47 (2-47) off the front. She would have to run 44 (2-44) from a stand, round a 14 horse field. It’s impossible,” he said.

He also thinks Hidden Talent, trained by his son Nathan who will start off a 30 metre handicap, is in the same situation.

“They’re not going to be running a quarter in much over 30 (seconds). You’ve just got to follow them round, hope they can break the New Zealand record (2-44.5) and you could maybe run in the top three. It’s a shame for the race. If they made it a 2700 then every horse would have it’s chance.”

Williamson says people are going to refer to Eurostyle winning the race off 10 metres last year.

“She went phenomenal and a lot of people would say she’s New Zealand’s best mare. That’s the quality you have to be to do that. She’s capable of doing that kind of work and we’re not. And I don’t believe Nathan’s horse is.”

Outside of Empire City Williamson has two other runners in the mares feature.

Torquay Street (Father Patrick) will start off the front mark.

At her last start at Methven, she was checked, lost her driver and was pulled up. She has an excellent record on the course, good distance stats and won three races from the standing start.

“I think she’s got a very good first four chance. She’s a very good beginner as a rule even though she got tipped out at her last start through no fault of her own. She’s taken no harm from it.”

Williamson says it’s a massive advantage starting off the front.

He points to as an example, the Southern Surge Final at Gore in August which was also run over 2200 metres with handicap conditions. “Lead and trail ran first and second.”

The master trainer says the front line for tomorrow’s race is strong.

“You’ve got Matty’s horse (Princess Sadie). If I was doing the market she’d be the short priced favourite.”

Phil’s other runner Practical Magic was tough when winning in trying conditions at her last start. All of her five wins have been in standing start races. She’ll start off the 10 metre mark.

“The 10 metres is going to put her well back in the field. She’s going great at the moment and I’m really happy with her. She needs them to run record speed and if they do that, she could run into the first four.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink