By Jonny Turner
After lighting up Southland last month, Darling Me returns on Saturday with the Southern Belle Speed Series Final in her sights.
The Steve and Amanda Telfer trained mare heads south after blitzing her opposition in a sensational 1.51.8 mile time in a heat of the series when was last seen south of the Waitaki.
That effort, before running second to Heza Sport on a premier night at Addington, came from s tough draw in barrier 9.
Driver Tim Williams is looking forward to the mare being handed a massive upgrade in draws in Saturday’s final, with the pair set to start from barrier 3.
“It is probably the best draw she has had over the mile during the season.”
“She has obviously run some good miles.”
“I am really happy with the draw, it is obviously not the be-all and end-all but it’s close to the fence and if they are cutting out strong sectionals it is a help.”
Williams and the Telfer team also start Aardie’s Express in race 10 on Saturday’s programme.
The three-year-old is back in action after a freshen up and she has trialled well ahead of her return to racing.
Williams hopes it will be a case of Aardie’s Express heading back to Southland better and wiser for her first big trip away from home – for her last start third in a heat in the Southland Oaks series.
“She has had a little bit of a let up.”
“The trip down south last time, by the time she got home she had grown up a wee bit.”
“Back down there again, hopefully we can go one better than last time.”
The Stonewall team also start Matt Major in Saturday’s Southern Supremacy Stakes heat.
The pacer brings all the right form to the event, but Williams just wants to see him put his full talent on display.
“He has definitely got the ability.”
“Two starts ago he probably threw it away when he got lost in front.”
“He was OK at Rangiora on Sunday but he had a few steering issues again.”
“But he is a horse with more upside than most.”
Williams takes several outside drives at Winton on Saturday including Tommy Waterhouse in the Winton Cup.
The Kirstin Barclay trained pacer impressed with an easy win in his last start at Winton.
Before that race, the four-year-old ran a game sixth in the Wyndham Cup after doing plenty of mid-race work.
Barclay has a huge hand in the Winton Cup, also starting Love On The Rocks, Paddyproudfoot and Macandrew Aviator in the race.
The Barclay trained Wattlebank Arnie looks another strong drive for Williams in race 4.
The trainer also starts He’s A Meister in the same race and she takes the reins herself.
