Have Faith In Me all class in Auckland Cup

Harness racing driver Tim Williams will be still shaking his head in disbelief tomorrow morning.

A week ago he was going to be sitting on the sidelines today at Alexandra Park as his favourite horse Have Faith In Me did battle in the Auckland Cup.

However Tim was successful in having the penalty reduced to a fine on appeal and he has certainly made the most of the opportunity he was given.

A great drive on Piccadilly Princess got her home second in the $150,000 3 Year Old Fillies Sires Stakes Final and he then capped the day with an inch perfect drive to claim the $250,000 Group 1 Trillium Trust Auckland Cup with Have Faith In Me.

The big question on everybodys mind pre race was would Have Faith In Me step from the standing start after missing away in his three previous attempts.

You wouldn't say he made a quick beginning but he did go away,settling second last.

There he stayed until 2000 metres from home when he looped the field to sit parked at the 1400 metres mark.

Not long after he received cover from Tiger Tara and nothing much changed until nearing the home turn.

Tim half came out for a short distance before going back in.

On the bend he eased the four-year-old gelding by Bettor's Delight out three wide again and started to hunt down Hughie Green in front.

Slowly but surely he got the upper hand but the margin was only half a neck at the line which was a testament to the fight Hughie Green put up.

Just about in line with them was the old campaigner Smolda who was half a head away in third.

The race was a tactical affair with the last half off the front taking 55.7 and the 400 metres a smart 26.6 which gave those back in the field little chance.

The win was Have Faith In Me's fifth Group One success and his tenth victory at just his eighteenth start and took his earnings over the $710,000 mark.

Tim Williams was quite emotional on returning to the winning circle.

"Thats just unbelievable."

"A week ago I was going to be on the sidelines but with help from Rob Lawson my appeal was successful."

"I can't thank Rob enough."

"Like everyone else i didn't know if he would step or not and I would have been lying if I said otherwise."

"However if you do catch him on the right foot, he will step away as he did tonight."

"I wasn't confident of pulling in Hughie Green in the straight as he is a terribly hard horse to get past but he really knuckled down to it the last bit."

"This is a dream come true and I can't thank Mark and Natalie for having the faith in me to put me back on after I won the appeal," said Tim.

It now appears that Have Faith In Me will be headed to Sydney to show the Australians what all the fuss is about.

Harnesslink Media