Another boost for Williamson

“Winning is better than medicine that’s for sure,” trainer Nathan Williamson said after Always Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) impressively won the $25,000 Mataura Licensing Trust Gore Pacing Cup today.

After a super charged beginning rarely seen on the Gore track, Always Dreaming in the hands of Matty Williamson, was soon leading and intent on making it hard for backmarker and favourite Franco Sinatra.

“He’s a brilliant beginner. Getting him to gallop at home is very difficult. He just paces and he’ll never break. I had a yarn to Matty and told him to be pretty aggressive today because I thought he was the one to beat and so it proved.”

With just over a lap to run Franco Sinatra made his move for driver Carter Dalgety and moved up to sit parked.

At the 400 Williamson found another gear and started to open up a gap between Always Dreaming and the leading group of Franco Sinatra, Tabasco, Double Jeopardy and Shephards Delight.

ALWAYS DREAMING REPLAY

At the end of the 2700 metres Always Dreaming was seven and a half lengths in front of Franco Sinatra with a head back to Tabasco.

“That was his first stand, but we were so confident that he would begin brilliantly. Matty drove him great and he was ultra impressive.”

The winning time for the 2700 metres was 3-21.7 (a mile rate of 2-00.2) with the last 800 run in 55.9 and the last 400 in 28 seconds.

The time was 2.9 seconds outside of Sand Wave’s 2023 open track record.

Sand Wave was also trained by Williamson and owned by some of the group that also own Always Dreaming, including  the Nine Three Syndicate and Chris Alcock.

“I always thought the 2700 metres would suit him and Matty was rapt with him today.” 

The win was the three year old’s eighth and a welcome change of luck for the gelding.

“Things went wrong before the Slot race. He got a bit of a viral infection and we were gutted he couldn’t take part in that. He’s bounced through that and his run in the Derby was pretty good considering he’d missed quite a bit of work. In his run the other day he was going to run third and he was held up. We knew he’d be better for it.”

Nathan Williamson who fractured his skull in a race night accident at Alexandra Park just over two weeks ago, was enjoying a day at the races and was pleased with the win.

“It’s only been a fortnight since the accident. If you’d asked me how I was feeling three or four days ago things weren’t too good. If I was having a yarn to you I’d probably have to go and have a lie down after. Walking five paces to the toilet was that bad too. But the migraine headaches have gone and I’ve got a lot more energy than I had. Things have got better and as they’ve said it’s just going to take time. I’m going to be on the sidelines for a long long time but I’m more than happy to be here.”

Williamson says he’s found it’s very different training horses without driving them in work.

“I struggle with it. It’s the way Dad has brought me up. He’s a trainer that trains by feel. I’m very fortunate that I’ve got great staff. They’re all young and have learned through me, so they know how things are meant to be done and how I’d like them to do it.”

Williamson says the Roxburgh Cup will be Always Dreaming’s next target.

The Gore meeting rounds out the Southland Harness Racing season with Williamson winning both the drivers and trainers’ premiership.

With 46 training wins he finishes six clear of Brett Gray (40) with Kirstin Green (27) in third place.

It’s the ninth time Williamson has won the Southland Trainers Premiership and he now betters Henry Skinner’s previous record of eight trainer premiership wins, two of which were in partnership with Allan Devery.

Williamson’s win in the driver’s premiership with 68 successes is 33 clear of second placegetter Brent Barclay (35) with Craig Ferguson (34) in third place.

The premiership win was Williamson’s seventeenth beating Henry Skinners previous record of sixteen, achieved between 1969 and 1990.

Williamson also trained the province’s three leading stake earners – Captains Mistress ($151,342), Duchess Maria ($110,000) and Ruby Roe ($99,300).

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink