Sargent drills them

Last night at Addington Sargent Best (Art Major) won his sixth race and his first for Oamaru harness racing trainer Matty Williamson.

Williamson purchased the horse from Swannanoa trainer Benny Hill.

“Peter Lagan messaged me saying the horse was for sale. We were looking for a horse for Andrew Peach, so it worked out well,” he said.

Peach who lives in Christchurch is the partner of Willamson’s mother-in-law. His only other horse RK Finn, won three races out of the Williamson barn.

“He was going really well when we got him and he’s a real dude around the place. He was ready to put his foot in the til, but he just hadn’t had much luck. He ran a good race for us first start then the wheels fell off. He’d had a couple of hard runs and that had an affect on him. We just had to back off him and freshen him up.”

From barrier one Williamson pushed Sargent Best off the arm and when Wolf Of Street crossed over to take the lead, Sargent Best secured the perfect trip. Turning in rather than take the passing lane, Williamson brought the gelding wide and he ran home best, to win by two and a half lengths.

“I thought if he got a trip he’d be hard to beat. His last few runs have been good but he hasn’t been in a striking position. Last night I was very confident coming round the home bend. In those lower rating races he’ll do a nice job. He does possess a bit of ability when he gets the right run.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink