Drought breaks for Williams

“My heart’s still going. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a win,” Ascot Park harness racing trainer Michael Williams said after Hogie (He’s Watching) won at Ascot Park yesterday.

That “long time” has been fourteen years as the win was Williams first since December 2010 when Buster Balou won at Winton.

After yesterday’s race he was quick to acknowledge the help he receives on a daily basis from Steve Washington.

“He’s a former galloping trainer and it’s good to be able to share things around.”

The five year old gelding is out of Serene Abbey, a Dream Away mare, and was bred by Malachi and the late Tom Hogan – hence the name Hogie.

“Malachi is my mate. He offered me this horse two years ago when I didn’t have one.”

Williams has now trained six winners since becoming licenced in 2003. He had instant success with Parson’s Glory that year, winning four races with the Jaguar Spur gelding.

In yesterday’s race driver Brent Barclay got the perfect sit with Hogie behind Gati and he came up the passing lane to win by a neck.

HOGIE REPLAY

“He’s a nice horse to have around and you need to have a lead (rope) on him. When I came here twenty years ago I had five horses and I didn’t get home until eleven o’clock at night. I had the front paddock where the Daycare centre is now.”

Michael owns and runs Carpet Plus – Willy’s Flooring, but says he’s trying to wind down the business.

“I’ve had health issues. I used to work ten hours a day. Now my wife works ten hours a day. I’m lucky if I work one hour a day now but I come up here (Ascot Park) for two hours in the afternoon. It’s exercise and all sorts of good stuff.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink