Liquid Les (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) has become more like a family member than a racehorse for Craig Williamson, and the capable gelding will aim to collect a hometown success at New Plymouth in the Revital Fertilisers Open (1800m).
A rising eight-year-old by Echoes Of Heaven, Liquid Les has been sparingly raced throughout his career and has made just five appearances this season for two wins, most recently a brave front-running victory at Te Rapa.
“It was a big thrill, we’d gone there for a run because there weren’t many options,” Williamson said.
“It was his fourth win and he’s won pretty much all of his races the same way, being out in front and leading.
“He’s gone from strength to strength this year, he’s an older horse but it’s taken us a long time to get him to this stage, hence only having 20 starts.
“He’s been pretty much perfect since, you wouldn’t really know that he’s had a race. He travels quite well, eats up and came home again for a few days off afterwards before getting ready to go again.”
On that occasion, Liquid Les was ridden by Matt Cameron, and Williamson opted to remain with a senior rider in Kelly Myers for Saturday’s contest, where he is currently rated an early favourite with TAB bookmakers at $4.50.
“I would say we’ll do the same on Saturday in letting him go forward, which is why we’ve got a senior rider on again as they are just able to read the race a bit better. He’s a horse that, if ridden correctly, will go well for you,” Williamson said.
“If someone wants to take him on, I would probably prefer to let that horse go as it wouldn’t do him any good getting into a speed battle, often I’ve seen that those two horses just end up nowhere which isn’t what we want.
“I think the track will be pretty heavy as we have more rain coming tomorrow.
“It’s a bit daunting for smaller trainers when their horses go out and almost be favourite in a bigger sort of race, not that we have any pressure from owners, but it’s just the way it is.”
Originally purchased for just $900 via gavelhouse.com as a weanling, Liquid Les has earned more than $88,000 in stakes for Williamson and his wife Sue, who also run a popular café in Inglewood.
“I liked the look of him, he had a kind eye and was a nice-looking type,” Williamson said.
“He’s out of an O’Reilly mare and I wasn’t looking as much into the breeding side at that time, but as I’ve gone through, he’s from quite a good family.
“He’s an awesome horse, great to have around and is a real character.
“It’s hard work balancing both, we start at around 4:30 at the café to do baking before coming to do the horses but that’s what I choose to do.
“We don’t do it (racing) for the money, we do it because we love the animals and put a lot of time into them. They give us some back as well which is really cool.
“It’s very rewarding and being smaller trainers, any win you can get is a big bonus.”
Williamson was influenced into racing by former local trainer Marilyn Paewai, who prepared successful winter mare Rosewood (NZ) (Redwood) to several Group Three placings and 11 wins during Williamson’s time at the stable.
“The person who got me into training was Marilyn Paewai, who had Rosewood and Batchelor Babe,” he said.
“I worked with her for six or seven years before she unfortunately had a stroke and had to give up the horses, Rosewood was at the end of her career, so she retired then.
“I inherited Batchelor Babe who was a lovely mare and had five wins, and I’m now breeding from her. We have her second foal on the ground by Derryn.
“When I bought Ben (Liquid Les), I bought another filly called Tess, both named after two of my children. Tess raced as Cya Maria, but she sadly broke down, so we got her in foal to Derryn as well.
“We bred from her because she was exceptionally tough, she’s by Ghibellines and was a neat little horse.”
He has also appreciated assistance from another Taranaki-based conditioner in Tawhiti Hina, who provided him with sound advice to take to each race-day.
“My trackwork rider Tawhiti is a very good person and probably the best rider we have here, he’s also a trainer himself,” Williamson said.
“He’s been like a mentor to me and not being a rider myself, I’m very lucky to have his help and I wouldn’t be able to do it without him. “He always told me that as long as your horse tries and comes home in one piece, that’s the main thing.”
