Williamson searching for success in the sulky at Southern Surge

[Wandering Eyes]

By Jonny Turner 

Phil Williamson is looking to turn back the clock to 2021 on the first day of the Southern Surge at Winton on Sunday.

Four years ago, Williamson’s form in the sulky at Central Southland Raceway was red-hot.

But the undisputed king of New Zealand trotting hasn’t driven a winner since. Not that he’s tried too hard.

The master trotting trainer can get back on the board on Sunday when he teams up with two runners from his powerful team of six starting on day one of the Southern Surge series. 

One of them is Tarragindi who rates as one of the hardest horses to beat on the 11-race Winton card. 

The three-year-old is a proven Group 1 performer who has beaten arguably stronger fields at Addington recently than he faces on Sunday.

All Williamson has to do is wind back the clock to his Jasmyn’s Gift days.

“Everything is good with him and he should be tough to beat.”

“It will depend how it is run a bit, with the 10m.”

“Whether we press forward or sit back will depend on what is happening up front.” 

“You have to respect the opposition, but I would like to think he would be hard to beat.”

What’s The Whisper is Williamson’s first drive on Sunday and he looks a bright hope on the back of his nice late work in his latest trial.

The trainer-driver just hopes the three-year-old has his brain engaged for his first race start.

“He is a work in progress, he is a big dummy.”

“He is on the unruly because he isn’t very clever at stepping that first 10m, but from there he should hopefully be able to get away.”

“He has definitely got the ability to win a maiden at short notice, but there are a few unknowns with him.”

Williamson also starts Rangitata in Sunday’s opener, with the filly also impressing in her recent trials.

“Rangitata is a more reliable type, she hasn’t missed a beat all the way through.” 

“She is a really, really big horse for a three-year-old filly, you would think that time will be her friend.” 

“At this stage she is a little bit raw, but on what she is showing us hopefully she can be one of the ones to beat.”

Williamson has a three-pronged attack in the fast class trotting heat in the Southern Surge on Sunday.

Missile (20m), Our Pinocchio (10m) and Torquay Street (front) go head to head, with the latter shaping as the Williamson stable’s best hope.

“Torquay Street has the game for this race, I think if she caught it right she could lead.”

“If she settled in the first two or three she could be hard to beat.” 

“She is fresh up, she might be found wanting depending on how it is run, but she is stronger now.”

Our Pinocchio and Missile both look each way threats from their handicaps in Sunday’s trotting heat. 

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