Williamsons with big chances in Sunday’s Southern Surge finals at Gore

[Wandering Eyes]

By Jonny Turner 

It should be straightforward for one of Phil Williamson’s rising stars, but not as easy for another in the finals of the Southern Surge.

Southern harness racing’s newest series is set to finish with a bang with eight outstanding finals set down to be run at Gore on Sunday.

The Williamson-trained Rangitata could claim the title of being New Zealand’s best handicapped horse when he starts in the first final of the Southern Surge.

The three-year-old was a powerful winner of his first start in the first round of series heats, crushing his rivals despite sitting parked throughout.

As part of the series, Rangitata will race many of the same maiden rivals he conquered at Winton on level marks as a one-win horse.

With the excellent manners and big motor he showed in his debut victory, the trotter is likely to start the shortest-priced favourite in all of the Southern Surge Finals.

It is not quite so simple for star three-year-old Tarragindi in his Southern Surge Final.

His challenge at Gore will be to overcome a 10m handicap over 2200m, starting from the outside of the second row.

On Sunday, Tarragindi will reunite with Matthew Williamson who has been itching to get back in the sulky behind the progressive three-year-old.

When they last combined, the pair produced outstanding form which included a second at Group 1 level at Addington to Meant To Be.

Tarragindi will clash with Clotilde Wainwright who beat him fairly and squarely in the first round of Southern Surge heats.

The trotter is part of a powerful squad Nathan Williamson starts on Sunday.

Always Dreaming looks to be one of the trainer-driver’s strongest winning hopes on the strength of his heat win.

The three-year-old was too good for the same field that he meets in his final at Gore, when resuming at Ascot Park.

Williamson also starts the unbeaten She’s Crunchy in another Southern Surge Final.

The filly made it two-from-two when clearing out to win her heat at Ascot Park.

She’s Crunchy clashes with Saucy Delight, the only horse to win in both round one and two of the Southern Surge heats.

Jonny Turner’s Five to Follow 

Tarragindi – Race 7 (3.06pm)

He’s big and bold and he’s got the chance to show us how good he can be on Sunday. Tarragindi was beaten fairly and squarely in his last outing at Winton, but there were enough excuses there to give him a pass mark. Aimed at this series and with the final on the line, Sunday is crunch time. Tarragindi has mixed it at Group 1 level and he is on a path to do that again later in the year. If he is as good as many of us think he is, he should be stepping out and winning his Southern Surge Final. That’s not to disrespect his opposition, as there are some handy horses in there. But if he really is all class, trotting fans would love to see it when it counts.

She’s Crunchy – Race 8 (3.44pm)

She’s unbeaten and she’s classy. The three-year-old will put that unbeaten record on the line in her Southern Surge Final on Sunday. She’s Crunchy is in a match-race with key rival Saucy Delight who has gone two from two in his Southern Surge heat assignments. Though the winning chances certainly don’t end with just these two, what happens early between the pair will be crucial. She’s Crunchy has drawn inside Saucy Delight who has proven in his short career he’s an out-and-out leader. It should be a great battle and a fascinating race, and going into it, She’s Crunchy deserves to be the number 1 seed.

Share A Dream – Race 10 (4.54pm)

Share A Dream is fast, really fast. And the Gore straight is long, longer than most in Southland. It sounds like a great combination and it should be.
The four-year-old has been outstanding recently including claiming another big race prize – a Winter Rewards Final. This time it is harder, though with Share A Dream racing horses realistically around two grades higher. And he hasn’t drawn perfectly in barrier 7. Despite those factors against him, he should be rushing home especially if Sunday’s final is run at a genuine clip.

Rangitata – Race 3 (12.44pm)

Rangitata is as close as fans will find to a good thing on Southern Surge Finals Day. She’s already beaten the same field of rivals in her brilliant debut win in the first round of heats at Winton. The problem for her rivals is that she’s only likely to be better for that first test under raceday pressure.
While it will be hard for many to get too excited about her $1.35 win odds, she’ll have plenty of supporters in multi, quinella and trifecta takers.
Trotting purists can also watch on and assess whether Rangitata has the capability to go on to the quality three-year-old trotting fillies races ahead in the spring and summer. Right now, she looks capable of doing just that.

Always Dreaming – Race 11 (5.18pm)

Sometimes harness racing isn’t that hard, from a form perspective. I have already written this week about how Always Dreaming beat all of his Southern Surge Final rivals when he won his heat at Ascot Park. He even did it from the same draw over the same distance. Why can’t he come to Gore fitter and ready to do it again? The only surprise building into his final is that he opened at a $2.40 win price, when there was a case to have him much shorter.
He’s racing quality horses and it’s not just a turn up and win job, but he’s a deserving top pick.

 

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