Watch List stunned the Ascot Park crowd today. He broke at the start giving his harness racing rivals a huge advantage but was still too good, winning the Southland Farm Machinery Run Like a Deere Mobile Pace at the Invercargill Harness Club meeting.
Watchlist warming up for Nathan Williamson
The He’s Watching three year old trained at Winton by Katrina and John Price lost a conservative twenty metres when the mobile left the 2200 metre mark.
“I wasn’t hustling him off the gate. He got it wrong, so he’ll have to sort out that part of his game,” said driver Nathan Williamson.
The early pace was genuine with Chezz Dale and Maxwell Robyn taking turns in front ensuring Watch List’s task was a tough one.
Turning in with a lap to run Williamson had finally latched onto the back of the field. At the 400 when Livy Desma started to improve four wide Williamson got a nice tow into the race, but he was still last in a compacting field.
Watchlist (orange) out the back with a lap to run
“Turning for home I wasn’t confident. He didn’t pace that good on the last bend.”
As they straightened for the run to the money line Watch List let down with a sharp sprint.
“Once we straightened him up and got him balanced, he just rounded them up nicely which was good. The motor’s there,” Williamson said.
The ever increasing winning margin was a length and a quarter.
Watchlist winning at Ascot Park
The gelding was bred and is raced by Roger, Helen, Katrina and John Price.
Winning connections
The family has been a great money spinner for the family. Watch List is out of the two win Mach Three mare Donnamach. She’s out of Belladonna who’s left the winner of one hundred and eighteen races.
“I’m delighted with what Katrina has done with this horse and he’s a real family horse. We’ve had a few offers for him, but no one’s come up with the money. I’m in it for the fun now, I want to have a horse to race, and this horse looks as though he has a wee bit of potential,” said Roger Price.
Later in the day Katrina and John trained Yankee Party to win the Arden Lodge Robin Dundee Crown. Roger, Helen, Katrina and John share in the ownership of this six year old American Ideal mare which has now won five races from just eighteen starts.
View the Invercargill results click here!