Minnie wins her maiden

Oamaru harness racing trainer Matthew Williamson is genuinely excited about two-year-old trotter Minnie McGoogan and has some bigger plans mapped out for the filly.

Although today’s win at the Tuapeka Trotting Club’s meeting at Invercargill wasn’t against the strongest field, the race served it’s purpose in educating the talented racehorse, and will give her a solid grounding for the bigger races ahead.

Minnie McGoogan warming up prior to her win today

Today was only Minnie McGoogan’s second start. Her first was at Addington just over a week ago where she was beaten by One Thirtythree.

“She just wasn’t as good as I’ve had her for that run. I’ve been having wee seasonal issues with her which I’m still not quite on top of. I think once they go away, you’ll see even a better version of her,” Williamson said.

In today’s One Over Da Moon – Southwest Shearing Trot, Williamson took her straight to the lead and despite Kiwi Heir applying some pressure, Minnie McGoogan proved her high-end qualities and cleared out to win by four- and three-quarter lengths.

“I didn’t have to pull the plugs today but if we’re going to take on the better horses later on, she’d need to be winning like she did today. She’s good from the stand and the mobile and is probably tractable beyond her years.”

Minnie McGoogan and Matty Williamson leading with a lap to run

On her own at the finish

Returning to the birdcage

Williamson not only trains and drives Minnie McGoogan but also shares in the ownership with Invercargill Real Estate Agent Craig Heyrick and his wife Tania.

“She’s always been nice gaited. As a yearling bowling around, she had that part of the game which is a good start. She’s been pretty smart even as an early two-year-old but she was big, so we turned her out instead of racing her.”

The Heyrick’s, Clark Baldwin and Williamson, raced Minnie McGoogan’s dam Winnie McGoogan who won two of her four starts.

“She had a lot of ability. She broke a pedal bone when she won at Oamaru. She ran home in 56 and two steps past the line she broke down and was retired. She had a lot of ability and was running around with some of the better two-year-olds.”

Williamson says there’s a suitable race for Minnie McGoogan at Addington in a couple of weeks and then he’ll look at bigger targets later in the season.

“She’ll race in the fillies races, and we’ll also have a crack at racing the boys at some stage providing she shows she’s up to it, but I think she will be.”

View the Tuapeka results click here!

by Bruce Stewart