Williamson 700 on the trot, Majestic Man off to Aussie

Oamaru harness racing trainer Phil Williamson is mapping out a quick raid to Australia after Majestic Man (Majestic Son) won the Group Three Cambridge Flying Stakes last night (Jan. 12) for the second time.

“It’s looking very likely. He was looking okay this morning,” Williamson said as he was heading home from Queenstown airport.

On the table for the eight year old trotter is the VC Dullard Cup which he won in 2021 and The Great Southern Star in which he ran second in his heat and third in the final, also in 2021.

“We might just target the Southern Star. We’ll have to check to see whether they’re happy enough to give us a start in that series without running in the Dullard.”

The Great Southern Star is run on a heats final basis, both run on the same day.

“They all have to cope with that. I think if your form is good going into the first round it should stay good. The draw is the crucial thing that changes your luck. A good draw in the Southern Star is massive.”

In 2021 when Majestic Man went to Australia he was in the care of regular driver Brad Williamson, but Phil says the travelling companion hasn’t been decided yet.

“The horse is staying in Auckland, that’s a definite. We’re looking at sending Brad over again but we’ll have to see how he’s placed because he’s got his own team here to look after. The way I look at it is, with the big gun kiwis not going and it being a $300,000 race it’s worth having a shot at. He’s been competitive with the Aussies before and I don’t see why he won’t be competitive again. It’s the right time to pursue it. He won enough money last night to pay for his trip.” 

When asked whether this could be Majestic Man’s last season of racing Williamson wasn’t sure.

“It’ll be decided on soundness and form. From where he’s placed he certainly won’t be starting off prohibitive handicaps for no reason. We won’t do that to him because he’s been too good a horse. We’ve got a paddock for him with Monty Python sorted out when he does retire.”

Meanwhile up and coming trotter Hurricane Hill (Muscle Hill) is close to being sold to Australian interests.

“He’s sold subject to the money coming through.”

Since being in the care of Williamson the gelding has won six of his eight starts and when he won at Cromwell earlier this month it was Williamson’s 700th trotting win.

It’s a remarkable achievement and unlikely to be bettered for a very long time.

Mark Purdon (394), Paul Nairn (382), Michelle and Bernie Hackett (314), Roy Purdon (250) and Charlie Hunter (206) all have excellent records with trotters but nothing like the Oamaru horseman who is now looking at scaling back his horse numbers and enjoying life, and his grandchildren a bit more.

Phil Williamson’s 701 winners fact sheet

First trotting winner: Role Model – New Zealand Metropolitan June 1995

700th winner: Hurricane Hill – Wyndham HRC at Cromwell January 2023

Leading drivers of the 500 trotting winners: Matty Williamson 232, Brad 164, Phil 108 and Nathan 97.

Biggest winners 10 wins (NZ) or more: Allegro Agitato (21), Springbank Sam (20), One Over Kenny (19), Majestic Man (19), Jasmyn’s Gift (17), Springbank Richard (17), Pyramid Magic (14), Leighton Hest (12), Lets Get Serious (10), Father Christmas (11), Monnay (10), Alderbeck (10), Monty Python (10) and Role Model (10).

Note: One Over Kenny won 32 races in her career including the Australasian Trotters Championship in 2007. She was trained by Tony Herlihy in the latter part of her career. She won a total of $1,098,007 in stakes.

Biggest winners by stakes (NZ):  Springbank Richard ($572,370), Majestic Man ($521, 718), Allegro Agitato ($446,899), One Over Kenny ($372,936), Springbank Sam ($319, 759), Leighton Hest ($205,242) and Jasmyn’s Gift ($192,436). 

First Group win: Role Model 1996 New Zealand Trotting Championship (Group Two).

Group One wins: 11

Group Two wins: 12

Group Three wins: 13

Multiple wins – Group races:

Four Year Trotter Championship (Group Three): Lets Get Serious (2006), Springbank Richard (2008), Leighton Hest (2009) and Majestic Man (2019).

Ashburton Trotter Flying Mile (Group Three): Allegro Agitato (2004 and 2005), Springbank Richard (2009) and Majestic Man 2020.

Cambridge Trotter Flying Mile (Group Two): Allegro Agitato (2005 and 2006) One Over Kenny (2007) and Majestic Man (2020).

Lyall Creek Stakes (Group Two): Allegro Agitato (2006) and One Over Kenny (2007).

National Trot (Group One): Allegro Agitato (2006) and One Over Kenny (2007)

New Zealand Trotting Championship (Group One): Role Model (1996), Allegro Agitato (2004 and 2006) and Jasmyn’s Gift (2005).

DG Jones Memorial/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup (Group Three): Springbank Richard (2009 and 2010)

New Zealand Trotting Free For All (Group One): Allegro Agitato (2005) and Jasmyn’s Gift (2006).

Cambridge Flying Stakes (Group 3): Majestic Man (2021 and 2023).

Ordeal Cup: Jasmyn’s Gift (2006) and Springbank Richard (2009).

Other Group Wins: New Zealand Trotting Oaks (Group Two) One Over Kenny (2005), Northern Trotting Derby (Group One) One Over Kenny (2005), New Zealand Sires Stakes Trotting Championship One Over Kenny (2005), Dominion Handicap (Group One) Springbank Richard (2009), Rowe Cup (Group One) One Over Kenny (2007) and Southern Lights Trot (Group Three) Springbank Sam (2015) and Majestic Man (2019).

Important overseas wins: 2007 Victoria Trotting Derby (Group One) Springbank Richard, Interdominion Trotting Championship Heat winner – Shepperton (Group Three) Springbank Richard, 2005 VHRC The Holmfield One Over Kenny 2021 VC Dullard Trotters Cup (Group One) Majestic Man, 2021 Australian Trotting Grand Prix (Group One) Majestic Man, 2021 Aquagait Equine Centre Trotters Mile (Group One) Majestic Man, 2017 Sires Stakes Two Year Old Trotting Championship (Group Two) Majestic Man and 2021 Interdominion Heat (Group Three) Majestic Man.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink