By Jonny Turner
Boarding Call will be out to complete a hat-trick of wins and add to Matthew Williamson’s huge tally of winners at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
The Oamaru reinsman has three more chances to add to his 207 winners at the Dunedin track before it closes early next month.
His successes at the track have helped Williamson edge towards joining the elite band of drivers in New Zealand’s 1000-win club.
And it has also provided him with some good, but cold memories.
“I have won a lot of races there, it has been a happy hunting ground,” Williamson said.
“There have been a lot of good nights there and a few freezing ones, as well.”
“I drove my 100th winner there the only time I got a hundred in a season, that would be one of the bigger thrills.”
Another 100-win season looks within Williamson’s reach given he goes into Thursday night’s meeting with 91 wins for this term.
Boarding Call, both trained and driven by the Oamaru horseman, looks one of his better winning chances.
The four-year-old comes into race 6 after taking her game up a level in her last two starts with gritty victories.
“I have been happy with most of her runs since she has come back in but things haven’t gone her way until the last couple of starts.”
“I actually didn’t think she could win her last start because it was a big step up in grade but she did and it was a good effort.”
“She beat Jody Direen and she is going to be one of the toughest horses to beat, so she should be a good chance again.”
The Graeme Anderson and Mike Love trained Who’s Smokin looks another big winning chance for Williamson in race 5.
The four-year-old gets a prime winning chance in what looks like a field she can handle.
“She has been going well and she gets a pretty good chance in that field.”
“Ah Mach might sit on my back and she looks the hardest to beat but my horse should get her chance to win.”
La Reina Del Sur, also from the Anderson-Love barn, rates a winning threat in race 7.
“This race is a drop in grade from her, she was in the handicap trot last time and this looks a lot easier.”
“She will still need a bit of luck but she should be a decent chance.”
Williamson also combines with Count Eyre (race 1), Eilish Hall (race 2), Von Art (race 4) and Heaven Helpus (race 8) on Thursday night.