NZ HARNESS NEWS
Comeback pacer Tas Man Bromac will kick off the new season in Southland for Branxholme-based trainer-driver Nathan Williamson at Gore on Sunday.
Tas Man Bromac (nine wins) only raced three times last season after minor injuries, but he reappears in the $12,000 feature pace (2000m mobile), facing a useful field and going from the outside of the front line.
‘”He’s wintered well,’’ Williamson told Southland Harness Racing’s website.
“I gave him a break after the Bluff Cup and he’s freshened nicely. He got dehydrated going up to Kaikoura (October).
“I was getting him ready for cup races like the Roxburgh Cup and he pulled a muscle in his hind quarter, and that sidelined him for a large part of the season.
“He’ll go to Gore without a workout or trial so he’s bound to improve from the run. In the grade he’s in, he should be pretty competitive,’’ Williamson said.
Another pacer who had limited track time last season was Statham (six wins). He only lined up five times, with his best performance being at his first start of the season, when second in the Cromwell Cup.
“He won’t race at Gore, but will trial next week. He had a bit of a viral infection which curtailed his season. The infection was a hard one to track down. He’s had plenty of work.’’
Another promising gelding by American Ideal, Foo Fighter, is also in work. He won first-up in January and is currently being jogged by part-owner John Earl at his Oporo Flat farm.
“He’ll be back here in the first week of September. He was the same as Statham. He had something deep down in his lungs which we couldn’t see with a scope. We’ve given him a good break and treated him and hopefully he’ll bounce back this season.’’
Southland horse-of-the-year Dark Horse (eight wins from 16 starts) and Poppymalda (eight wins in 21 starts) have both been nominated for the Group One Dominion Trotting Handicap (3200m) at Addington in November.
“She (Poppymalda) didn’t really get a break. We’ve freshened her after her Forbury win and she’ll be back at the races in September, whereas Dark Horse won’t be back until October.”
The stable also has some handy three-year-old pacers.
Triroyale Brigade is back in work after placing behind the likes of Ashley Lopez, Sicario and All U Need Is Faith last season.
Another three-year-old colt Williamson likes is Franco Santino. He’s by Christian Cullen out of the 10-win mare San Rafaella and was purchased for $55,000 by stable client Neville Cleaver at the 2016 Sale of the Stars
“We’ll qualify him in the next month to six weeks and work out a plan for him.’’
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