By Tayler Strong
Nathan Williamson, of Ryal Bush (Southland) continued a busy three days when he teamed with his brother Matthew, of Oamaru to win the five-race series for invited brother drivers at Oamaru on Saturday. The duo repeated their win of two years ago.
They amassed 17 points, with their nearest rivals, Clark and Ken Barron on 11. Nathan had driven two winners at Ascot Park on Friday and trained one of them, Grey Power.
He drove Man I’m Good and Free Falling to win races for invited drivers at Oamaru. Man I’m Good led over the last 1400m of 2000m and held on by a neck.
Free Falling trailed the leader and dashed away in the closing stages to score by five lengths.
Man I’m Good is the first horse raced at Oamaru by his Winton trainer, Alister Kyle, who shares the ownership of the Badlands Hanover 4yr-old with his wife, Vicky.
Matthew drove Bordeaux to win. Bordeaux came from the tear of the field at the 600m to win going away by a length and a half, It was the second win in six starts for Bordeaux, a 5yr-old trotter by Love You from Sapient trained by Philip Iggo, who races gelding with his wife, Martine. Bordeaux has a distinctive style which Iggo attributes to the sire, Love You.
“His feet strike out like arrows and it seems a trait of the progeny of Love You,’’ said Iggo who has much experience with trotters.
Nathan began his day about 6 am on Saturday and ended about midnight after a return trip to Oamaru of some 10 hours. He transported his own horse Poppymalda and two for Clark Barron, Mass Invasion and Frank The Tank to Oamaru.
Mass Invasion won in the hands of Zac Butcher and Poppymalda staged a big late run for third after starting from 30m.
Nathan was on the road again about 11 am on Sunday, taking four horses to the Balfour trials.
Wyndham trainer Brendon McLellan won races with Sammy The Bull and Pass The Speights on Sunday. Sammy The Bull (Leo O’Reilly) cleared out by eight lengths after racing three back on the inner until the stretch.
Pass The Speights won well after a tardy start. He is a 3yr-old by Bettor’s Delight and the first foal of Miss Optimistyx, an In The Pocket mare who broke a fetlock after two minor placings in 10 starts.
Pass The Speights is raced by his Edendale breeders, Bruce and Alister Sinclair.
Bruce was at Oamaru but Alister remained at home to keep on eye on Mr Handleman, who was unwell after finishing second to Ascot Park on Friday.
The McLellan – Sinclair connections had Leigh Major racing at Methven on Sunday.
Phil Burrows also trained two winners, Free Falling and Perfect Circle. The latter, a 3yr-old filly having her third start, is a half sister by Rocknroll Hanover to Billies A Star, a useful winner in Perth since he was transfered out of the Burrows stables.
Perfect Circle is raced by breeders Mike and Dawn McQuoid.
Philippa Wakelin and Stephen Noble produced BK Dawn for a first up win in a maiden trot. The 4yr-old BK Dawn who ran on stoutly after trailing the leader, is by Revenue from Stargo Whiz, the dam of Anothersuperstar (seven wins). A $7000 purchase at the 2013 premier yearling sale, BK Dawn is raced by Ian Starkey, of Cust.
Cullect A Guinness posted his fifth in 12 starts when he led over the last 2500m of 3000m. He has also recorded four second placings for Rangiora breeder, Peter Higinbottom and the Woodend Beach stable of Robert Dunn.
“He (Cullect A Guiness) will race close to home over the Christmas – New Year,’’ said John Dunn, his driver.
Cullect a Guinness, a 5yr-old by Gotta Go Cullect, is the first foal of Charlotte Lea (by Lislea), who recorded 11 minor placings in 31 starts. She was one of five foals Higinbottom bred from unraced Classy Charlotte, whom he secured as a broodmare in 1998. Another was Guinness Icon (two wins). The unraced Classy Charlotte was by Talk About Class and claimed as her great granddam, Highland May, a sister to Highland Fling, winner of the NZ Cup in 1947 and 48.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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