Lauries Legacy shows her true ability

Lauries Legacy had six starts for Waikouaiti trainer Amber Hoffman. And whilst there was never a doubt the harness racing mare had ability, her manners and cornering skills tended to let her down.

Today Lauries Legacy had her first start for Oamaru trainer Brad Williamson, having recently transferred to his stable.

Lauries Legacy and Brad Williamson

“She’s always had a bit of ability but has been making a few mistakes. She was stood down and had to trial at Oamaru. Amber left her at Dad’s, Dad gave her to me, and Gerald (owner Gerald Cayford) was happy for me to have a go with her. We took her to Ashburton. She trotted and got her clearance. We’ve just been waiting to get a race for her,” he said.

In today’s Wyndham Workouts Committee Trot, Lauries Legacy was slow off the unruly mark and settled second last. With 1700 metres to run Williamson moved forward and the Majestic Son mare made the top shortly after.

When he looked over his shoulder heading for home he knew he had the field covered, and he won by two and a quarter lengths from Kiwi Heir.

Lauries Legacy on her own

“She just needed to get more confidence. Her main problem was trotting round the bends which Amber doesn’t have on the beach. If she trotted today, she was going to be hard to beat. It worked out really well. Keeping her trotting was the key.”

Later in the day Williamson made it a training double with Simone Lindenny winning her second race in as many starts.

Meanwhile Williamson says his star trotter Cracker Hill has just returned to the jog team.

“He’s not going to be seen for a while. He burst a blood vessel on the outside of his knee which I’ve never seen before. We decided to give him a good spell and forget about a Cup preparation. We’ll look at racing him at Christmas time,” he said.

“We’re not panicking. We know we have a nice horse, and we’ll wait until he’s ready,” he added.

Williamson also drove quality trotter Majestic Man, who’s trained by his father Phil, at the Oamaru trials last week.

“He trialed up really nicely. He’s in great nick and the main aim is the Dominion in which he ran second last year. He’ll have another trial at Oamaru and we haven’t set in stone where we’ll start off but he’s likely to go to the Ashburton mile again.”

Majestic Man, the winner of seven races this season including three Group One races in Australia is one of four horses nominated for the Five-Year-Old and Older Trotter of the Year at next month’s Harness Awards.

“He certainly footed it with the Australians, and he was second or third best trotter here, so it just shows you how strong the trotters are in this country at the moment. With Bolt For Brilliance and Muscle Mountain coming through it’s certainly going to be exciting in the next couple of seasons.”

by Bruce Stewart