By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Brad Williamson is hoping the time and effort he’s put in are worth it.
This Saturday he partners Aroha Kenny in the Aldebaran Park Breeders Crown Series 25 Final for the 2YO Trotting Fillies at Melton Park in Victoria after a hectic fortnight that’s seen him criss-crossing the Tasman as he juggles drives behind her and multiple Group 1 winner Majestic Man.
“It’s been busy alright, there’s been a lot of travel and a lot of miles,” he says.
Williamson drove Majestic Man to victory in the Group 3 Worthy Queen on Cup Day at Addington, then flew to Australia to drive Aroha Kenny in the opening heat of the Australian Breeders Crown at Maryborough, two hours drive from Melbourne on Thursday (Nov 10).
After Aroha Kenny finished third and qualified for this weekend’s final Williamson then drove for another two hours to drive at Kilmore before returning to Melton later that day.
He then flew back to New Zealand arriving in the early hours of Friday morning to drive Majestic Man again at Addington in the Dominion on Show Day. He finished fifth behind now three-time winner Sundees Son.
Now he’s got another date with Aroha Kenny in the $100,000 Group 1 at Melton on Saturday night, where she has drawn the outside of the front row.
Williamson has been down this road before. He had three Group 1 wins with Majestic Man in Australia in February 2021.
Both are trained by Brad’s father Phil Williamson at Oamaru but Brad says that’s where the similarities end.
“Majestic Man has been there done that – he’s an experienced horse – and the filly is a lot greener.”
While Majestic Man has 22 wins and earnings of over $700,000, Aroha Kenny is just a baby.
So called because she is a Love You filly (by Royal Kenny), Aroha Kenny was bred and is raced by Brad’s mother Bev.
“She’s bred to be good,” says Brad Williamson.
She is a 3/4 sister to Queen Elida (Love You – Queen Kenny) who is this year’s Victorian Three Year Old trotting filly of the year and is regarded as one of the emerging stars in the trotting ranks across the Tasman. She has won 16 from 27.
Aroha Kenny has had just three race day appearances in this country for two placings, and a seven length win at Ascot Park.
In the opening Breeders Crown heat at Maryborough she was not rushed off the gate, and looked very comfortable in finishing third behind two of her race rivals on Saturday night, Rockinwithattitude and Susan Is Her Name.
In the fixed odds markets across the Tasman they are the two favourites for Saturday with Rockinwithattitude at $2.40 and Susan Is Her Name at $3.20. Aroha Kenny looks to be good each way value at $19 and $3.50.
Aldebaran Keepa (R1), Harry Stamper (R7), who was co-bred by Bev Williamson and trained by Phil before being exported this year, Amore Vita (R8) and Major Perry (R9) are others with Kiwi connections that will be part of what will be a huge night’s racing at Melton.
