By Jonny Turner
Master trainer Phil Williamson thinks punters have a challenge on their hands ahead of the Group 3 Dark Horse Mares Handicap at Ascot Park on Sunday.
A capacity field of classy contenders has been assembled for the inaugural running of Southland’s newest black-type event.
Nobody has won more trotting races in New Zealand than Williamson. The Oamaru trainer is certain he knows how the event will play out, but unfortunately for his fans that does not extend to knowing which horses will be where.
“I think the 2200m really makes the race for the front-markers,” Williamson said.
“Any of those horses off the front could ping away and roll along and be very hard to catch.”
“There is really nothing in the favour of the back-markers.”
“I can see there being a real rush to that first bend and whoever gets to the lead or sits in the trail will take a bit of beating.”
Williamson effectively has one front-marker in the Dark Horse in Majestic Love.
Though Sheza Gift starts from the front line, she’s off the unruly and looks unlikely to be on the pace early.
Williamson’s biggest winning threat in the race in Aroha Kenny has a big task in front of her from her 10m handicap.
“Aroha is in bloody good nick and I do think she can win the race if it is run to suit.”
“If she was three wide and one back around the bend she would probably be the one to beat.”
“But if they are rolling along and she’s giving a horse like Hidden Talent a 10-length start then I would say she’s no show.”
“Any of those horses off the front would have to be a chance, they’ve won half a dozen races and if they roll along at an even speed then when do the back-markers make a move?”
With the likely race set-up, Williamson has a real challenge on his hands when he drives Sheza Gift.
The reinsman will be out to win his first Group race since taking out the Group 3 Southern Lights Trot at the same track, in 2014.
To see the Dark Horse field click here
Williamson starts two more horses who he thinks are well up to winning, but will also require race circumstances to be on their side on Sunday.
Missile made up plenty of ground in his last start fourth at Oamaru and looks well placed despite a 30m handicap on Sunday in the Level One Restaurant and Bar Handicap Trot.
“He is not the sort of horse you can be confident because he is not well-gaited.”
“He could beat them, if it was last man standing and he was coming over the top of them that would be the way he could do it.”
“But around the tighter track, he definitely could win, but he is risky.”
Williamson feels Brother Johnson is in a similar spot to Missile in that he can win under the right circumstances in the Gil Shirley Memorial Handicap Trot.
“I think from the unruly he looks a good chance of running in the top three or top four.”
“He is probably an 80-20 chance of getting away and if he can get away he should be running on.”
“But the issue with him is he doesn’t like the smaller track, but after he missed away at Oamaru I thought he could go again this week.”
“He is a nervy type and he does have some ability, but he is not the sort of horse you can push.”
Williamson’s stable star Empire City has progressed well after her shock gallop in the recent Southern Trotting Oaks.
Though the mare threw a shoe during the running, Williamson isn’t certain that is what caused her to break on the home turn.
However, the trainer is hopeful normal transmission can resume when the classy three-year-old heads to Ashburton next weekend.
