Aint No Angel stamped herself as a Southern Oaks possibility when she hung tough to win the last harness racing heat at Ascot Park today.

The Raging Bull filly headed straight to the top and although Monaco Grace levelled up, Ain’t No Angel fought back to win by a head.

On the back of her second at Wyndham she was made favourite for today’s heat.

“She’s a nice filly and we’ve aways liked her. She’s not well bred but she doesn’t know that,” said trainer driver Brad Williamson.

The horse’s reputation followed her to Addington on debut where she started second favourite.

“She just gets a bit excited behind the gate. I’ve pulled her hopples up with hopple shorteners which has made her a wee bit more balanced in that first couple of hundred metres. In her first couple of preps when we worked her up at home she didn’t wear knee boots. She probably doesn’t need them at the races because she’s nicely gaited.”

It’s not the first time Williamson has been part of Aint No Angel’s family. He prepared the filly’s brother Ronaldo before he was sold to Australia.

“I had him as a two year old and sold him for quite nice money to Tim Butt.”

Williamson says the owners who are all from Central Otago have sent Ain’t No Angel’s dam Heavenly Bliss to Christian Cullen stallions.

“It’s worked for them because they’ve had a couple of nice horses.”

So how does Williamson assess her chances in Saturday’s Group Two Nevele R/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks?

“Since the Addington hiccup I’ve been happy with her in both her starts but we’re going to need a good barrier draw and a bit of luck next week.”

Meanwhile Williamson says his quality trotter Cracker Hill is making good progress as he looks at returning to the racetrack after last racing at Cup Week in 2020.

“He’s just working up slowly back in the cart and doing some miles. I’m looking at stepping him out in another six weeks. Because he’s had such a long time off it’s going to be a long slow build up and were looking at racing him over the winter.”