The Williamson family looks poised to play a major role at the Gore fixture on Tuesday, particularly in the three trotting races on the card.
Trainer Phil has two in the first, the Kevin Campbell Farrier Trot, with Brad taking the drive on Jeddy R Ya Ready and Matthew on the debut runner Zoey’s Gift. Jeddy R Ya Ready was competitive in fields no stronger than this during a two year old campaign and should have no difficulty measuring up here. Zoey’s Gift is the daughter of group one trotter Jasmyn’s Gift and qualified at Oamaru over 2500 metres in 3:17.0, after getting out to a long lead and holding out the talk-horse for Winton – stablemate Davey Mac.
Phil’s sole rep in the Norman Family Trot, fourth on the card, is Astral Ruler who will find winning tough from unruly-6 over only 2200 metres on the 1000 metre track. However, his win in a junior drivers race at Winton was solid and it was a C1 and C2 trot. His assessment has remained C1 and it is a C1 race solely this week.
Matthew drives Astral Ruler while Brad drives Alderbeck for Phil in race six, the Ward & Sinclair Trot. The combination finished second in the slush at Ascot Park on Trans Tasman drivers day, soundly beaten by De Vito who is in the field again this week. De Vito, who joined Nathan Williamson during the off-season, was powerful in his win at Invercargill a month ago with Nathan aboard and he takes the reins again. Making the difference is the pair started off the front that day. De Vito gives Alderbeck 30 metres on Tuesday.
Alderbeck has since won a 2600 metre trial at Oamaru in 3:25.9. De Vito trialled at Invercargill during the week and was hard held finishing second in a slowly run 2200 metres.
The day’s feature is the Mataura Licensing Trust Gore Trotting Cup and Nathan renews his association with local star Captain Dolmio. He has had just two previous drives on the C5-assessed five year old for a win at Invercargill and a second behind Mr Mojito at Addington on Cup day. Captain Dolmio’s most recent public appearance was in a workout at Wyndham about a fortnight ago, against the likes of race-rival The Big Boss. There was little between the pair after 2400 metres cut out in 3:02.8, home in 56.6.
In the last, the Arden Lodge Mobile for male non-winners, Mathew gets aboard Royal Bengal again. The Christian Cullen colt from the family of Brahmaputra first came to prominence when qualifying at Gore in August, the day the camera didn’t turn up to film the action. His two raceday starts have resulted in second placings. One on the second line following out A Smart Excuse, doesn’t look a bad draw.
In other races Manuka Valley – in race two the P Jones and M Officer Sponsors of Gore Harness Racing Club Pace, It Ain’t the Money – in race three the DLF Seeds Mobile, Angel In White – in race seven the Panspacificflight at Macca Lodge Mobile, and Milehigh Magic – in the ninth the McKeown Group Pace, need to be considered.
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