Shadow gets his fifth win

Oamaru harness racing trainer Matty Williamson has had Robyns Shadow (Shadow Play) for just three starts but he’s starting to work him out.

The five year old had put four wins on the board Ross and Chris Wilson but he looked to be struggling to get his next, so he was moved to his new stable.

“I won on him when he won the first time, and he looked pretty good back then. He’s a horse with ability but he’s a bit dumb and lazy. I’ve been cantering him at home, and he felt before his first start for me that he was on the job but he didn’t pick them up,” Williamson said of the horse’s run for sixth at Wingatui on the grass.

He then took Robyns Shadow to Addington where he ran an improving fourth in the hands of junior driver Kerryn Tomlinson.

“I was hoping to go forward last start but he threw a few roughies (strides) in when he came out of the gate so I put an overcheck on him today.”

So heading into today’s race, the Neville Cleaver Fishing Mobile Pace, more gear was added to sharpen him up for the 2200 metre sprint distance.

“I put the galloping hood on him today and that changed him. He was on the bit the whole way and he ran the race out in good time.”

ROBYNS SHADOW REPLAY

Williamson went straight to the front and although he was challenged for most to the trip Robyns Shadow held on to win by a head from Better Fly (Bettor’s Delight).

“A big credit to the second horse that kept niggling at us right to the line. He was all out at the end but most are when they run 2-40.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink