From Winton to The Creek

Southland horseman Nathan Williamson is in for a busy few days with nine drives at Winton tomorrow and a big assignment at The Creek at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday.

At the Winton meeting he links up with the Stephen Balloch trained Sebastian Stark (Sebastian K) in Race One.

“He’s got good ability this horse. If he trotted all the way, he’d be pretty hard to beat. He doesn’t ever feel like doing anything wrong at the trials but on race day with horses around he gets a little bit lost and panics a little bit. I’m sure the team behind him is winning the battle and hopefully he can put his best foot forward,” Williamson said.

Mind Philly (Art Major) is his drive in Race Two. Trained by Kirstin Green the four year old mare is out of form and draws the outside of the front row.

“Hopefully she can work the oracle from there.”

In the third race, he partners up with the Brett Gray runner Rambin Rover (Net Ten EOM).

“He’s not the worst horse. He’s coming back from a bit of a break. I don’t know too much about him and I’ve never sat behind him before. I think he’ll be a chance in that sort of field.”

Havarti Arden (Betterthancheddar) gets Williamson’s services in Race Five.

“She’s finally got a good draw so that’ll be an assist to her. She’s talented enough to take this race out on her day. Hopefully she turns up in the right frame of mind and applies herself.”

He rates the Katrina and John Price trained Always B Royal (Always B Miki) in Race Six as his best drive.

“It’s a drop back in grade for her and she comes up with a good draw so I expect her to be right there.”

Franco Sailor (Bettor’s Delight) resumes in Race Seven after a long break. Williamson used to train the entire but he’s now in Lyndon Bond’s barn.

“He’s drawn well so hopefully he can use his draw. He’s a good enough horse on his day to be able to compete in this.”

Rightazz (Always B Miki) is Williamson’s drive in Race Eight.

“He’s a bit out of form so hopefully he can turn that around but it’s a tricky draw.”

The Branxholme reinsman drives Our Pinocchio (Bacardi Lindy) in Race Nine for his father Phil.

“It’s a real competitive lineup and it wouldn’t surprise me if any one of them won. He’s been racing good, so he’ll be in the race with a chance.”

His day is rounded out with Foxing Easton (Washington VC) in Race Ten.

“I’ve won a couple on him. He’s a horse that’s got a lot of speed if he can be saved up. If he just settles in there (in the field) and relaxes he could come over the top of them. He’s one of those horses who on his day is quite quick.”    

The trip to Aussie to drive Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in the $150,000 Group One Queensland Oaks will be his third in as many weeks.

Captains Mistress has been successfully campaigning in Brisbane under the care of Grant Dixon and is looking at keeping her unbeaten record in the State.

She was impressive when winning the Redcliffe Oaks at the end of last month and equally as good when winning The Rising Sun Consolation a week later.

“She’s on top of her game and in her last couple of starts she’s been pretty sharp. She’s happy over there and thriving.”

Williamson said she’d not raced last weekend and she should be cherry ripe for Saturday.

In the Queensland Oaks she draws four on the second row.

“It is what it is. It could be worse.”

This Saturday’s assignment will be her last in the campaign. The three year old filly will have a short spell in Brisbane before returning to Southland where she’ll be prepared for some big spring/summer targets.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink