Williamson’s team primed for strong showing at Ascot Park

[Wandering Eyes]

by Jonny Turner
Is Sunday the day for New Zealand’s best maiden trotter to break through?

To The Moon And Back has arguably earned that title after producing huge performances in his three starts so far.

The three-year-old is part of a team filled with winning chances that Brad Williamson is lining up at Ascot Park.

To win, To The Moon And Back will need to bring his best manners and beat his two stablemates, Penelope Lane and Muscle Mist.

Those manners will be crucial if To The Moon And Back is to make use of the 20m handicap advantage he has over his stablemates.

“I think with his 20m head-start on the other two, To The Moon And Back would have to be our best chance,” Williamson said.

“He has been going big races and off the front line he would be hard to beat if he does everything right.”

“He is still learning, but I think he can go on and do a pretty good job.”

Penelope Lane returns south after beating To The Moon And Back in her only race start at Wyndham.

Though she gives her stablemate a head start, she still looks a strong winning threat.

“The Volsteads seem to be doing a great job at the moment, so she’s got that in her favour.”

“She would be the most foolproof of our three and she would have to be a pretty handy chance.”

Muscle Mist baulked at the start of her last outing at Addington after an excellent debut victory at Ascot Park.

She also looks to rate a winning threat in Sunday’s Gold Chip Final.

“She’s taken a while to get to the races, but she has shown us a bit of ability,” Williamson said.

“I think she has a nice future, once she gets a bit of racing into her and gets a bit more ringcraft.”

“She’d have to be a handy chance on Sunday, too.”

Among Williamson’s strong team at Ascot Park is Tabasco, who starts in Sunday’s finale.

Given some of the country cups company he has mixed it with this year, the pacer looks very well placed.

But Tabasco does give away a race fitness advantage, considering he hasn’t started since April.

“He hasn’t had any trials, but he has had a couple of private runs to sharpen him up.”

“I would say he is not at his absolute peak, but he is as fit as we can get him without having a race.”

“All in all I am pretty hopeful he will be ready to go a nice race.”

The grand old campaigner of the Williamson barn, Domination’s Call, starts on Sunday.

He looks a top-four threat from his sizeable 35m handicap.

“It is a tough handicap, but he is a very honest horse.”

“He does need the right run, but he is always running on.”

Aint No Angel follows out the hot favourite Always B Bootie in her Ascot Park assignment, which should put her in a striking spot.

The mare was slightly disappointing by her standards in her last start, but she still ran a solid third placing.

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