Wet track win for Foveaux Strait

When Nathan Williamson began training in 2010 Ben and Karen Calder were a couple of his first supporters and they provided him with his second harness racing training win when Burano (Muscles Yankee) won at Ascot Park in December of that year.

Today (Jul. 1) in terrible conditions Foveaux Strait (Bettor’s Delight), bred by the Calders and raced in partnership with Williamson’s wife Katie, won his maiden race in emphatic style at Ascot Park.

It was the Bettor’s Delight gelding’s sixth start and his trainer has always had an opinion of him. But he wasn’t happy with the horse’s training prior to the Invercargill Harness meeting on the 18^{th of} June and he subsequently scratched the gelding.

“Since then I’ve changed his training around and today he went well,” he said after the gelding sat parked for a good while but came away to win by five and three quarter lengths from an unlucky favourite Star Of Arion.

FOVEAUX STRAIT REPLAY

Williamson says while the four year old has taken a bit of working out, things are starting to click for him now.

“He missed a few preps as a young horse so everything he’s done has been in this prep and the brain’s taken a bit of time to catch up. He’s quite touchy in the mouth and quite lean, so he’s taken a bit of time to get strong,”

Meanwhile Williamson’s two star pacers are back on the active list and on the jogging frame.

Pembrook Playboy (Bettor’s Delight) was gelded after a disappointing end to his campaign, whilst Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) ended the first part of his season on a high, winning the Listed Garrards Sires Stake Magnifique at Addington mid-May.

Both were sent to Debbie and Mark Smith’s property at Myross Bush for a short spell.

“He’s (Pembrook Playboy) taken to being a gelding well. They’re at slightly different stages. Sand Wave has more residual fitness, so he’ll come to it a bit quicker. He should be ready in the first week of September.”

The Hannon Memorial remains on the hit list for Pembrook Playboy.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart