Cromwell double for Brad

Oamaru harness racing trainer/driver Brad Williamson capped off the two day Wyndham Harness Racing Club meeting at Cromwell today by taking out two races.

First starter Isobel (Majestic Son) got the ball rolling in the Central Otago Motor Group Trot, when she came from a long way back to win easily by two and a quarter lengths.

“It’s not ideal when you get that far back. I probably had to move a lot earlier than I wanted to but to her credit she was very brave. I was surprised at how well she went,” Williamson said.

ISOBEL REPLAY

Isobel is raced by the Griffins Syndicate which also won with another first starter Hail Mary, trained by Nathan Williamson on the first day.

“She’s (Isobel) a nice wee horse, we like her a lot and she’s a pleasure to have around. She’s a wee sweetheart, is genuine and wants to be a racehorse.”

Williamson says he’ll give the three year old filly a break before mapping out the pathway ahead and may look at some of the better staked races for three year old trotting fillies later on in the season.

“She’ll have to improve a lot. If she improves as much as she has this preparation, then races like that might be on the cards. At this stage I haven’t set her goals that high, but we’ll give her her a chance. If she looks as though she deserves to be there she will be.”

Isobel is out of Dame Margot Fonteyn, a Muscle Hill mare out of Triple A which is a full sister to Juliana, the dam of Hail Mary.

Isabel and Hail Mary were bred by Bevan and Keith Grice.

The win by Isobel was the 114th for the syndicate who have been racing horses for fourteen years.

“There’s just been a few more members added into the syndicate, so it was great to see them have success so early on.”

Their first winner was Rugged Cross at Ascot Park Invercargill in April 2011 and their biggest winner to date is Majestic Man which has won 24 races and $855,545.

“It’s been a great syndicate for me, Nathan, Matty and Dad. They’ve had horses with all of us. Every time I have success for (them) it’s an added bonus because they’ve been so good to the whole family.”

The Griffins Syndicate derives it’s name from the first horse they leased, Mellow Puff. They decided to name themselves after the iconic New Zealand Confectionary company that makes New Zealand’s favourite biscuit.

Later in the programme today, Williamson won the Night ‘N Day Cromwell Trot with Kracka Looka (Father Patrick) which deadheated with Miles Away (Trixton).

Kracka Looka raced handy and looked like the winner halfway down the long Cromwell straight, but had to share the spoils with Miles Away.

“Very happy with the run. A dead heat is the dream result because you don’t go up in grade. She did her fair share of work and was very brave in the finish. A lot of her syndicate members live in Cromwell so it was a great day for them.”

KRACKA LOOKA REPLAY

The win was the four year old mare’s fourth in just nine starts.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink