Team Wilson out of the blocks and winning

Husband and wife harness racing team Laura and Damian Wilson admit the latter part of season 2024 was one they would rather forget – but with enviable numbers on the board so far this season, they’re certainly putting it behind them.

The couple maintain separate teams at their property at Byrneside, near Shepparton, but both are firing in the early part of 2025.

Laura has had 25 starters for seven wins (and four placings) for a 28 percent winning strike rate, and Damian’s percentages are even higher with 14 starters for five wins (35 percent).

“It was a pretty frustrating end to the season last year.  We were plagued by a virus for so long.  We were treating it, but just couldn’t get on top of it,” Laura said.

“After we treated them, the horses seemed to be going okay, then weren’t really ‘letting down’ in their racing.  They looked good and they were working at home okay, but they just couldn’t go at the races, and we knew they were better horses than that,” she said.

“In the end we got a second opinion, backed right off with them and tried some different antibiotics. That’s really turned them around, thank goodness.”

The big improver in Damian Wilson’s team has been square-gaiter Settle The Bill (Danny Bouchea), owned by Patrick Bourke, which has now had four wins since December.  Handy three-year-old Ideal Moth (American Ideal), raced by Len and Irene Parker, is also now living up to his promise with two wins so far this season.

Leading the way for Laura has been the promising Calexico (Lather Up), raced by passionate breeder-owner Verna El-Khishin. The three-year-old gelding has now won four in a row in impressive fashion.  Another of the El-Khishin breed, McWizard (McWicked) has won two of his past three, and Laura has also had wins this season with another McWicked three-year-old Alotlikependles and Dessie Gee (Sweet Lou) both owned by John Gilmore.

“The makeup of the stable hasn’t really changed too much, we’re really working with the same team of horses, but they’re racing up to their potential, which is exciting…and a relief,” Laura said.

“Our loyal group of owners have been really fantastic through the whole time.  It was frustrating for them, too, but we’d tell them we were going to have to back off again, and credit to them, each of them virtually said ‘do what you have to do’.  They were so patient and we’re happy to be back getting some results for them again.”

Laura said with the worst behind, the couple are looking at possibilities for what looks to be a handy combined team of around 14 horses.

“We bypassed the NSW Derby this week with Calexico.  As good as he is going, we felt it was just a few months too early for him mentally, and that he might need a bit more time before taking on those really good ones,” she said.

“It’s a long shot, but we actually discussed taking a team up to Queensland for the winter carnival.  We’d take most of them up and stay a month or so.

“Once they’re going well, you can’t win staying at home so it’s something to look at, anyway.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink