The master plan

Master harness racing trainers Phil Williamson and Paul Nairn have a massive job ahead of them if they’re to beat champion trotter Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill) in Friday night’s (May 26) Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park.

Muscle Mountain trained by Greg and Nina Hope is unbeaten this season and in his four career starts at Alexandra Park he’s been beaten just once – by Sundees Son (Majestic Son).

That doesn’t faze rival Canterbury horseman Paul Nairn.

“No horse is unbeatable. He showed in his last win that he did get keen on the journey and wasn’t quite as dominant at the finish. With the race being two miles, it’ll be interesting. If it’s run at a genuine pace it could be an interesting result. He looks like the best horse in the race and the hardest to beat, but it’s a horse race,” Nairn said. 

Oamaru based Williamson has won the great race once with One Over Kenny (Sundon) in 2007, while Nairn won with Inspire (Chiola Hanover) in 2006 and with Stig (Armbro Invasion) in 2013.

Williamson who’s been in the north since April has Love N The Port (Love You) and Majestic Man (Majestic Son) down to start in the Rowe Cup.

Love N The Port ran sixth in last week’s Anzac Cup, five lengths from the winner Eurokash (Love You). 

“I’ve put a line through that run as a disappointing end result. Hopefully we don’t have any of that standing start rubbish going on this week. They just need to turn them in and let them go. That’s what needs to happen,” a frustrated Williamson said in reflecting on the number of false starts in last week’s race.

“Before the race I thought he’d be hard to beat,” he added.

Love N The Port draws one off the front for Friday night’s $180,000 trotting feature.

“It’s actually good. He’ll get his chance to trot along the rail and with Muscle Mountain drawing four, he has a chance of being behind him with a bit of luck.”

Williamson’s other runner in the Rowe Cup Majestic Man, also ran in last Friday night’s Anzac Cup, but he lost ground after rearing at the start and finished tenth.

“It was very average for him. He’s not quite what he was and is staring retirement in the face a little bit. I don’t want him to go round a shadow of himself. There’ll need to be an improved showing from him. Everything about him seems fine, we’re just not getting that zest he’s had all his career.”

This will be the third time Majestic Man has competed in the Rowe Cup, having finished third in 2019 and fourth in 2021.

Paul Nairn has Matua Tana (Love You) starting off the unruly in the great race. He paced off the mark for driver Sarah O’Reilly in the Anzac and ran last.

“It was disappointing when he paced away. The stopping and starting at the start wouldn’t have helped him. We’ve put him on the unruly to be a bit safer. He’s quite a good horse and can work at home as good as any open class trotter I’ve had. We’ve just got to get him to relax and follow the others out this week. I’m just about to put new shoes on him which helps the ones that get a bit pacey, it gives them a bit more grip which can help them. If things go his way he could win it. He’s got enough ability and two miles should suit him.”

The magic sub four minute mark has never been achieved in the Rowe Cup although Bolt For Brilliance (Muscle Hill) got close last year running the 3200 metres in 4-01.2.

Friday night’s feature will be an interesting watch. Let’s hope there are no false starts this week.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink