Another setback for star pacer

On the eve of ‘The Race’ Southland harness racing trainer Nathan Williamson has had to scratch Pembrook Playboy due to injury.

This is another blow to the entire’s racing career after he was scratched just days before November’s New Zealand Trotting Cup.

A full set of tests and scans will be undertaken today before a plan is hatched around the horse’s recovery.

Pembrook Playboy

The injury is on the same hind leg that forced Williamson to scratch him from the Cup, but he says the horse isn’t as lame as he was in November.

“I’m gutted for Chris (owner) and Dunstan (horses sponsor). Dave Smith’s a tremendous guy. It was an honour to be accepted for a $900,000 race,” Williamson said.

The injury not only prevents Pembrook Playboy (Bettor’s Delight) from starting in Thursday’s $900,000 feature it also robs him of a chance to race in the big money races coming up in Auckland including the Group One Auckland Cup at the end of May.

Meanwhile Williamson’s attention switches to the next three weeks in the South with Thursday’s $50,000 Group Two Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham, and Diamonds Day at the end of the month at Ascot Park Invercargill.

The Black Flash will be his representative in Thursday’s Two Year Old feature.

“It’s a shame there hasn’t been two year old races for him so he’ll go straight into the races, and we’ll decide what to do with him from there. He’s had a wee setback and I’ve been chasing my tail a bit to get him ready. I think whatever he does in the Kindergarten he’ll improve on. He’s going to develop into a good wee stayer.”

The Black Flash

The third leg of the Diamond Creek Farm Three Diamonds Two Year Old Series will be sixteen days later at Invercargill so that’s another target for The Black Flash.

Three year old Sandwave has been unsighted since he won his second heat of the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes and he’ll go straight into the $50,000 final of that series possibly without another race.

“He’s freshened up well and he’s looking tremendous. I worked him around Wyndham on Sunday after the workouts. I’ve found it difficult finding a race for him with his rating and handicap, he’d have to chase down some very good horses and give them a start. I’m just deciding on whether to give him a start before the Supremacy or just trial him a couple of times. We’ve just got to plot a path to get him there 100% fit and healthy and then it’ll be up to him.”

Sand Wave

by Bruce Stewart