‘Turtle’ gets to 1000

Canterbury driver Tim Williams, the man affectionately named ‘Turtle’ became the 29^th driver in New Zealand to drive 1000 winners when he reined home Transonic (Bettor’s Delight) to win by three and a half lengths at Ashburton today.

TRANSONIC REPLAY

“To do it on him made it a bit more special. It’s taken so long to get him here and also doing it in Telfers colours because they’re a big part of what I do. It’s something you dream of and I’ve been lucky enough to have kept chasing the dream,” Williams said.

Tim’s parents Brent and Suzanne Williams, Tim’s wife Aimee and their sons Max and Levi were on course to help celebrate the win.

“It was good that they were all there. They’ve been there from the get-go. They dabble in the ownership of a few. They enjoy going to the races.”

Williams’ first winner was Easy Armbro for Robert Dunn at Rangiora in December 2007 while his first feature winner was Here We Go Again in the 2011 Southland Fillies Classic.

“I remember when I drove my first winner, I was working for Robert. I think not long after that John (Dunn) drove his 1000^th. I was so excited about winning my first race and thinking ‘shoot he’s won a 1000’. I remember thinking that was a lot of wins and a long way away.”

Tim has driven twenty one Group One winners, the first being Have Faith In Me in the 2014 New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Final.

“It was on Cup Day and being a Canterbury boy who grew up going to Cup Day, just knowing how hard it is to win any race on Cup Day. He was a boom horse and the quality of horses that Mark and Nat had and the faith they put in me and to leave me on. They could easily have been driving them themselves.”

Sixteen of his Group One wins have been for Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, four for Steve and Amanda Telfer and one for Robert and Jenna Dunn.

“Somebody said to me the other day that in the eight or nine years I was there (at All Stars) every season I drove a Group One winner for them. It was a statistic I was quite happy with.”

His current employers, Stonewall Stud’s Steve and Amanda Telfer, have provided 230 of his winners while Purdon and Rasmussen trained 172 and Robert Dunn 90.

His first winner for Stonewall Stud was Fernleigh Cash at Alexandra Park in September 2021.

Aardie’s Express 11, Dream About Me 10 and Have Faith In Me 9, have been Tim’s biggest winners.

Williams has also tasted success in Australia, winning the 2016 $150,000 Group One Nevele R Stud Victoria Oaks driving Piccadilly Princess.

Today’s winner Transonic, is the first foal out of the Mach Three mare Supersonic Miss who won seventeen races.

She did most of her racing in Australia, winning thirteen races there including the Group One NSW Breeders Challenge Three Year Old Fillies Final at Menangle.

Williams drove Supersonic Miss in her last New Zealand win in the Great Northern Oaks Prelude at Alexandra Park in February 2015.

“That makes you feel older. I ran third in the Great Northern Oaks behind The Orange Agent and Start Dreaming.”

Supersonic Miss was part owned by the MacLean Family Syndicate who also have a share in Transonic.

Transonic was offered by Todd and Fleur Anderson at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Sales in Christchurch and bought by Stonewall Stud for $165,000.

“He was one we always liked. He got pretty close to stepping out a couple of times but he got a few wee niggles. It was nice to finally get him there.”

Lindsay and Ian Thomson bought his full-brother Mr Supernova the following year for $68,000. He qualified at Winton in October for Branxholme trainer Alister Black.

Williams was destined to give Harness Racing a go. His grandfather Max Williams and Robert Dunn’s father were in business together in the 1960s, owning several hotels in Wellington.

Tim initially worked for Robert, then Paul Kerr, followed by Invercargill trainer Wayne Adams. He then headed to the All-Stars stable at Rolleston.

For the last four years he’s worked for Stonewall Stud and trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer.

“It’s been a steady build. We started off pretty quiet, but it’s starting to get to the peak of it’s power with the barn up and running.”

Among the 1000 winners a career highlight was October 2014 when he drove six winners at the Wairio Meeting; Ode To Success, Rockahula Arden, Fly Like An Eagle, Margarita, Oneover and Dark Dana. His only other drive finished third.

“I remember Mark (Purdon)  telling me he was going to send Fly Like An Eagle down because he thought there was a nice race for him. The race meeting must have clashed with the Methven Cup meeting. Dexter (Dunn) didn’t come south and he jacked me up to drive a couple of Cran’s (Dalgety). I ended up picking up an amazing book. I remember being overwhelmed and had to ring Wayne Adams and he helped me gear a few up.”

Tomorrow Williams attention moves to Show Day, when he’ll be driving Bettor’s Anvil in the $500,000 ‘The Velocity.’ So no time to rest up.

“It’s going to be hard with Regan (Marketplace) and John (Got The Chocolates) both drawing the front row and we’re on the back row. It looks as though we’re going to have to give them a head start which won’t be easy. He’ll go an honest race. They’re hard races to win and you need a little bit of luck and for them to have bad luck.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink