The well-bred Sheza Gift (Father Patrick) lived up to her pedigree at the Winton Harness Racing Club meeting at Central Southland Raceway.
Today was only the six year old mareās twelfth start. She had five starts as a three year old, four at four, one at five and this was her second start as a six year old.
āSheās had a few issues with fences, and been in two that could have been terminal for her. Luckily sheās been able to be patched up and get back racing,ā trainer Phil Williamson said.
Sheza Gift is owned by Garry Clarke who bought her as a yearling.
āHe wanted to get one out of the mare that he could race and breed from.ā
From her inside draw on the second row driver Nathan Williamson settled Sheza Gift three back on the inside. When a couple of horses galloped Williamson was able to ease her off the inside. With 500 metres to travel he sent her forward to challenge the leaders. As the field balanced up for the run home Sheza Gift got to the front and went on to win by a length and a half from Blithe, with Bill Bootit finishing third.
Williamson reported the ear plugs werenāt activated.
She ran the mile in 1-57.9.
āItās great for all the mares to get the opportunity to race over a mile.ā
The six year old mare is out of Jasmynās Gift, the winner of seventeen races including the Group One New Zealand Trotting Free For All. That win in November 2006 was Nathanās first Group One win as a driver.
āShe could progress a fair way because sheās a pretty good horse, but she just has to bring her manners. If she got solid in her gait it wouldnāt surprise me if she went all the way because sheās got a good motor.ā
Later in the programme Williamson won the New World Winton Handicap Trot with Pyramid Mystic driven by his son Matty.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink