Giving up his day job pays off

South Windsor harness racing trainer Troy Williams epitomises how hard work pays off.

Raised in Dubbo and Bathurst, Williams inherited the passion that his father Gary and mother Judy possessed and while they remain hobbyists, Troy has taken his involvement in harness racing to another level and is quickly becoming one of the more successful trainers in Sydney’s provincial area.

After giving away his day job to focus on his horses full-time, Williams is currently leading the trainers’ premiership at Penrith ahead of some of the biggest stables, including the Jurd, Morris, Grimson, Waite, Pizzuto and Fitzpatrick establishments.

“We have had a great season at Penrith, that is for sure,” said Williams.

“I live and work my horses at South Windsor, so it (Penrith) is my local track.

“To have had the success there has been great and I hope that I can keep that strike rate up.”

“I put my success down to placing my horses in races where they are winning chances.

“And I also have a consistent turnover of them in and out of our stable.

“I do not see any benefit in continuing to have horses in work if they’re not competitive.”

In the past 12 months, Williams has trained 24 winners at the western Sydney track and heads to Penrith tonight with four runners.

“To be honest, my confidence was flattened a bit when I saw the fields as all four came up with ordinary barrier draws,” he said.

“But in saying that I would rate them all definite chances as their form is sound and I am pleased with their trackwork.

“I really like Major Statement in the first race because he has been flying without winning.

“The 2125m will suit him down to the ground.

“If he were able to find the lead or even the chair without having to work overly hard, I feel that he is definitely our best chance of winning a race tonight.”

Williams also has a lot of time for Idle Hands, an 11-year-old gelding who won three on the bounce when he first joined his stable in June.

“I got this old bloke off my brother Aaron, who was racing him up at Bathurst and he has done a good job for me,” he said.

“He was a bit disappointing last start and has it all to do from barrier 10.

“But I do have a soft spot for him.”

To view fields for Penrith tonight click here.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW