Float breakdown doesn’t stop Oamaru trainer

Transport issues didn’t stop Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson from winning at Gore today.

Although two of his more favoured runners Rangitata and What’s The Whisper had to be scratched from Race Three, class trotter Tarragindi (Majestic Son) was on course in time to race and win the Phoebe Stud Grassroot Breeding Southern Surge Handicap Trot.

“If you cop the bad luck you’ve got to hope for a bit of good luck,” a pragmatic Williamson said after Tarragindi was too good for stablemate Have A Little Faith.

TARRAGINDI REPLAY

The race in which Rangitata and What’s The Whisper were meant to start was won by Hobbs (Father Patrick) who’s trained at Charlton by Bruce Wallace.

“Bruce is a good friend of mine. We’ve been good mates for years and he even gave me a ring when I was broken down. I don’t know whether he was sad for me or excited (laughter) but no, he’s a bloody good bloke.”

Williamson’s float broke down as he was going over the last hill approaching Dunedin.

“I was going a bit slow and had a fair bit of weight on in the truck. I went to change to a lower gear and had a slight hiccup with it. All the pressure went on the motor. When I did get it in gear the clutch plate went ping.”

Winton based horse transporter Brodie Phillips just happened to be heading north and spotted Williamson on the side of the road.

“I struck a bit of good luck. Brodie happened to be heading north with an empty truck to get it serviced, so he bought us south. We got on course just as an early race was being run so we were fifteen minutes out.”

Tarragindi was made hot favourite for his race, but his trainer did have a few concerns.

“I had concerns with the ten metres. You’ve got to get round the field, keep out of trouble and there’s plenty of things that can go wrong. But he’s a quality horse. You are always in with a chance when you’ve got a nice horse.”

The three year old now has some big targets on the horizon with The Ascent on Show Day a possibility before the New Zealand Trotting Derby a week later.

“We’ll probably just ease off him a bit then try and put our best foot forward when we take on the A team.”

Earlier in the day Phil’s youngest son Brad drove his 500^th winner.

“Bev and I are proud. You start with one and five hundred’s a lot. The other two boys have got a thousand so if he (Brad) sticks at it he’s talented enough to get a thousand. We’re always rapt with any success the kids have. They’ve done a phenomenal job. They’re Bev’s boys when they’re doing everything good (laughter).”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink