By Tayler Strong
Muscle Moment, a half brother to Quite A Moment, won at his first start at Wingatui on Monday. The Muscle Mass – Juverna gelding is trained by Phil Williamson for Jayne Davies, the Cranbourne trainer.
Muscle Moment was a $17,000 purchase at the 2015 premier yearling sale when offered by G D and D R Beckett, of Cheviot. Muscle Moment is the ninth individual winner from as many foals to race out of Juverna, a Gee Whiz mare who had a second placing in six starts.
She is a half sister to Take A Moment, the winner of 38 races and $1.1 million. Quite A Moment won the Breeders Crown at Melton as a 3-year-old and the National Trot at Alexandra Park in December.
Muscle Moment was driven by Matthew Williamson, who won later in the day with Idealistic Lass, following his five wins at Oamaru on Sunday. Idealistic Lass is trained by Geoff and Jude Knight, who won four at Oamaru.
Muscle Moment is the fourth individual 3-year-old trotting winner for the Williamson stable this season, joining Zoey’s Gift, Madison Jane and Jeddy R Ya Ready.
The 3-year-old filly Zoey’s Gift has been entered for Southland mile day at Winton on Saturday with a view to contesting the New Zealand Trotting Oaks. She set a track record for filly of 3.03.5 for 2400m (mobile) at Winton in her last start win.
Balius, another entrant for mile day, backed up after finishing third at Invercargill on Saturday when he led for most of the way over 2200m on Monday.
He gave his Riversdale trainer and part-owner Shane Matheson compensation for the scratching of First Son, who is recovering from a stone bruise. Matheson races Balius with his partner Lisa Barrie.
Trainer Nathan Williamson said Delestic would be ineligible for mile day after her win on Monday. She was quickly in front after starting from the unruly position.
Change It, who joined the Tahakopa stable of Brian Norman nine days earlier, won easily after leading.
Bakari did not race kindly but he still won easily after leading for the last 1400m of 2200m from a stand.
Acolyte is the only the second Southland-trained winner of the Waimate Cup. The other was Stylish George, trained at Invercargill by Jim Flynn and driven by Dave Todd, in 1956.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
