By Jonny Turner
Nathan Williamson heads to his hometown with two quality pacers in Hurricane Hendrix and Ultimate Challenge.
The trainer-driver heads to Oamaru with Hurricane Hendrix after the horse absolutely bolted in at Winton last week.
Known as a talented type, Williamson feels the pacer is in the zone and can show his true worth at the moment.
But just when things are going great, Hurricane Hendrix has been handed barrier 1 on the second row in race 9.
“He has really turned the corner this horse, the last month,” Williamson said.
“Obviously things didn’t go right at Addington and he paced a bit awkwardly.”
“We changed a few minor things with him and he has just clicked.”
“He seems really on top of his game at the moment, I was really confident going into Winton and he was very impressive and he did it very easily.”
“It is a tricky draw on Wednesday but if he gets any sort of luck he should be there or thereabouts.”
Hurricane Hendrix follows out the in-form Woodbine Rocks who starts from barrier 1.
Ultimate Challenge heads into a highly competitive Southland Oaks heat on Wednesday for Williamson.
The filly looked an ultimate professional in her win at Winton last week.
“We were quite disappointed in her run at Invercargill, she obviously wasn’t quite right on the day.”
“We freshened her up and raced her at Winton and she raced really, really good.”
“She’s a lovely mannered filly and does everything right.”
“If she got a nice run, she shouldn’t be too far away.”
Williamson hopes Ultimate Challenge can qualify for the Southland Oaks so she can show her staying prowess.
“I think she is a good staying filly, so the 2700m of the Oaks Final will suit her better than perhaps some of the heats over the shorter trips.”
“I think she showed that at Winton over the 2400m.”
“Staying is probably her forte, but she has a nice little turn of foot.”
Ohoka Connor will put his unbeaten record on the line in Wednesday’s Southern Supremacy Stakes heat.
Williamson combined with the pacer in his impressive debut win at Winton.
The pacer has since produced a brilliant victory at Addington, showing he is green but a big talent for driver Jonny Cox.
