Matty Williamson gets first training quinella

Oamaru harness racing trainer Matty Williamson notched up his first quinella at Gore today (Feb. 19) and there to celebrate were former Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight.

Winner Jordan Anne (Pegasus Spur) is part owned by Corner Shop Syndicate who originally had horses trained by the Knights. When the couple gave up training they remained in the Syndicate and it was great to see them back on course today.

In his first season as a junior driver Williamson drove a winner for the Knights and then started to get more drives from the Roxburgh trainers. The Knights lobbied their clients to put the young driver on more of their horses and the partnership became a potent combination. 

“They provided me with a lot of winners and helped me get started,” Williamson said adding he was bemused by Geoff being barefoot when holding Jordan Anne’s head for the birdcage photo.

Williamson drove 181 winners for Geoff and Jude and they provided him with one of his career highlights, winning the Group One Four-Year-Old Diamond driving Pembrook’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) at Cambridge 2012.

JORDAN ANNE REPLAY

Jordan Anne driven by Kerryn Tomlinson got the well deserved win from stablemate Dem Bones Dem Bones (Monkey Bones) who won by three lengths.

Seven of the eleven races at Gore today were won by junior drivers with Tomlinson (Jordon Anne and Hot Fizz), Tom Nally (I’m Watching You and Jimmy Steel) and Mark Hurrell (Abby May and Brookies Player) picking up doubles while Sam Thornley won the junior drivers race on Sophie (Bettor’s Delight). It was Nally’s first driving double.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink