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Southland harness racing trainer Nathan Williamson is still buzzing after he won two Group races at Alexandra Park on Saturday night.
Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) took out the Group Three IRT Two Year Old Young Guns Final for trotters by three lengths, while Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) was just as impressive in winning the Group One Magness Benrow NZ Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Final.
It’s the first time Williamson has trained and driven a Group double at the premier northern track. The closest he got to a Group One win was driving Springbank Richard for his father Phil finishing second in both the 2009 and 2012 Rowe Cup.
Saturday night was also the first time he’s campaigned a two year old trotter in the north and Duchess Maria handled the right hand way of going with ease.
“She does a bit of work that way round at home. She’s just as comfortable if not more comfortable that way round,” he said.
The two year old filly returned south at the weekend and is stabled at Regan Todd’s Yaldhurst Barn.
“There’s another Group Three race for her on Friday night (Addington). I’ll be guided with what Regan tells me on whether she starts. She seems brighter today (Sunday) than she was on Saturday.”
Duchess Maria was bred and is owned by John and Katrina Price of Winton who are well known for breeding top end pacers.
“They invest a lot of money in the breeding industry and they’re upscaling the quality of their broodmare band with their new ventures. I think they’ve just bought over an American mare. They really are to the forefront of the breeding industry in New Zealand.”
The win with Captains Mistress was also special for Williamson after some were starting to doubt her standing in the fillies ranks.
“It was great to be able to come into the race under the radar. She was New Zealand Two Year Old Filly of the Year. I think it’s one of those things that because she’s trained in Southland she’s not looked at in the same vein as some of those other fillies. I think she’s proven she’s up to any of them. “
And the win also vindicates the Southland trainer’s pathway to the $200,000 feature.
“The Sires Stakes was double in stakes compared to the Northern Oaks and that swayed my decision to go to the Southern Oaks rather than the Northern Oaks. The Northern Oaks was a 2700 metre mobile and a real tough race on those fillies. With the Sires Stakes being worth twice as much I wanted to have her 100% for that and luckily it all came together on the night.”
Although Captains Mistress finished second in the Southern Oaks Williamson always had the bigger picture in mind.
“She just needed the racing. It would have been great to win the Southern Oaks and don’t worry, we there trying our socks off but it was more important that she got that race into her.”
Captains Mistress will now head to Australia where she’ll race at the Queensland Carnival before she heads home for the three year old fillies features in the second half of the New Zealand season.
“If she gets over there and thrives which I think she will, I think she’ll improve further. She’s looking fantastic and carrying good weight. She’s not wanting a freshener or a break and pulled up after the race great. I think she’ll get over to sunny Queensland and love it over there. I think the futures bright for her.”
While in Australia she’ll be trained by Grant Dixon.
“I’m thrilled she’s going to Grant’s. He’s obviously a champion trainer and driver and even better bloke with it. It was Mick’s (owner Mick Boots) call. He’s got a couple of horses with Grant. I said I’d give him (Dixon) a call once she gets over there and talk about what I do with her and what her regular regime is.”
Two feature Queensland races that are options for Captains Mistress are the Redcliffe Oaks on 28th June and the $150,000 Queensland Oaks on 19th July.
“Then it’s a matter of working out when she comes back. Whether it would be a good idea to bring her back in the midst of winter or wait until the weather warms up here in September. It all depends on how she’s going.”
Mick Boots horses have been a positive addition to the Williamson stable and to racing in Southland.
“What he’s done for New Zealand harness racing, particularly Southland racing is really cool. He’s just a good all-round bloke. If you can’t get on with Mick you might be the one with the problem.”
Williamson says Saturday night’s double proves that horses trained in the south are as good as any – that they can be trained down here and race anywhere in the country.
“There needs to be an attitude adjustment. People always say this one’s too good for Southland or is going to run out of its grade in Southland and nothing annoys me more than people saying that. They say that’s always been the way, but let’s change that and make our racing as good as anywhere else. We’ve got the trainers and the owners. The owners with their quality horses tend to send them elsewhere, generally because the money is elsewhere. It’s (Saturday night’s result) proven that Southland horses can travel and be competitive if we’ve got the right quality product.”
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
