Hambletonian to Williamson

It’s a race that’s eluded master trotting trainer Phil Williamson but today the $40,000 Group Three Neumann’s Tyres Hambletonian Classic was added to the Oamaru harness racing trainer,s already impressive CV.

Williamson had two runners in the three year old trotting feature and it was Isolate (Father Patrick) in the hands of Nathan Williamson that came with a powerful finish to beat Confessional (Father Patrick) with Williamson’s other filly Aroha Kenny (Love You) finishing third.

“It’s nice to win those nice races and the Hambo has got a nice ring about it. I’m thrilled to win it,” Phil Williamson said.

The winning margin was two and three quarter lengths.

The time of 2-03.3 smashed the three year old fillies record for the distance of 2-05.9 previously held by Bohemian Rhapsody (Muscle Hill) and was just inside Mystic Max’s (Village Mystic) race, track and New Zealand record time of 2-03.5.

“She’s got a motor that the good ones have. We always thought she could be something and today she shown she is pretty nice.”

Williamson confirmed that Isolate will head to the New Zealand Trotting Oaks on the 1^st December.

“We probably won’t do too much with her before that because she’s such a big girl and we just have to look after her.”

ISOLATE REPLAY

Driver Nathan Williamson was thrilled to get the win for his father.

“It couldn’t have worked out much better. She was just wanting to lug in at stages. With Switch On (Bacardi Lindy) galloping in the score up, I ended up getting a lovely run on the fence. She loomed up with plenty of power and won it pretty convincingly really,” Nathan said.

Isolate is owned by Garry Clarke.

“He’s put a lot of money into the game. He deserves the win and I’m sure he’ll be thrilled. Hopefully it’s not the last big win she has,” Nathan said.

Isolate’s dam Escapee (Sundon) won the Hambletonian in 2012.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink