By Michael Guerin
Regardless of how the juvenile trot pans out at today’s (Saturday) $1.2million Jewels meeting champion trotting trainer Phil Williamson will be a proud man.
Which is just as well because the Oamaru horseman (and super sire) isn’t quite sure what expect from the trickiest race of today’s harness racing megafest at Ashburton.
Williamson not only trains three of the 13 starters in the $100,000 baby trot (race two) but the trio will be driven by his three sons — Matthew, Nathan and Brad.
“Bev and I couldn’t be prouder of them, to have three boys driving in a group one on Jewels day is pretty special,” says Phil.
Nathan may drawn the family short straw in Majestic Connies, with the other pair Springbank Lachie (Matthew) and Majestic Man (Brad) close to equal favourites.
Father Phil says one is better, but the other better off.
“Majestic Man might have more raw talent, as we have already seen, but he is on the unruly so is going to need luck,” he says.
“And he may not have the all-round manners of Springbank Lachie.
“Springbank Lachie has the ace draw and the gate speed to use it so he could lead or trail and that puts him a long away in front of the other fella.”
Williamson says Springbank Lachie was sick when a well-beaten second at Addington last start but has bounced back well and is the horse to beat in an even field.
“Still, if there are a few breakers and Majestic Man weaves through them and gets handier than we think, he might be too strong.
“I’d be happy with either result, whereas Majestic Connies isn’t quite as good as the other two yet.”
While Nathan may not win the juvenile trot he has a shot at something unique in the four-year-old trot (race eight) in which he trains Dark Horse.
The exciting Southland mare gives Nathan the chance to become the first son of a Jewels-winning trainer to also train a Jewels winner.
Dark Horse has looked exceptionally fast beating predominantly moderate opposition but stepped up to the next level when showing gate speed and then passing lane oomph to down a group one winner last start.
“I think Nathan is keen to let her run early and get to the markers in front and then give himself options,” says Phil.
“If think if she lead or trailed she’d be the one to beat because she would trot her last 400m in 26 seconds down that Ashburton straight.”
The gate speed of Wilma’s Mate inside Dark Horse, which also effects Lemond from the second line, and Marcoola and Temporale wide on the front line makes the four-year-old trot one of the most challenging puzzle for punters.
There appear to be plenty of anchors for those who love a multi bet, with Piccadilly Princess (R3, No.1), Spankem (R6, No.2) and probably Spanish Armada (R4, No.7) all too good for their rivals, the latter’s draw her only concern.
If Enghien (R5, No.7) trots smoothly throughout he should win but President Roydon (2) has the gate speed and recent improvement to benefit from any frailties exposed in the favourite.
Heaven Rocks (R7, No.14) might belong at the Funny Farm but he has a serious motor and if driver Natalie Rasmussen can launch him in the almost straight line between the 1200 and 800m marks he might erase his draw disadvantage very quickly.
But unless he gets to $1.80, don’t bother.
The last of a spectacular day has its fair share of question marks over the winning chances, with Ultimate Machete (R9, No.3) and More The Better (5) lacking race fitness, Thefixer (4) untested at group one level and Stars Align (13) with a dreadful draw.
But the best version of Ultimate Machete — the Sires’ Stakes and Sales Series winning version — is a touch special and if, as expected, he rolls to the front only that lack of recent racing could beat him.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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