Williamson Trotters on Sunday

[Happy Sunrise]

Not at Forbury but in Victoria.

Liberty Stride and Ultimate Stride should go real well in their big races. Will spice up Sunday being able to watch them go round after what they achieved over there so far.

[Dougie]

Really looking forward to this, I know the 2 year old heat was a standing start but the final is also and now drawn 2 on the 2nd row , way too much luck involved but backed in to $2 fav.

3 year old trot was a stand in the heat but a mobile in the final.... confusing.

[globederby12]

Liberty Strides run reminded me of Dark Horses run in her early days. Lost 80 tagged on then blouses them. Effortless action and very impressive.

Dark Horse due back on the track after recovering from injury in Sept we hope.

Watch this Space. 

[Dougie]

How ironic the 2 year old trots and wins from the stand yet the 3 year old gallops from the mobile finishing last.

Great day and good to see kiwis Tornado Valley and highly rated Scallywag Sam back too.

[Happy Sunrise]

Ultimate Stride looks like a good horse  after destroying the field in his race last night and Phil Williamson talked him up big time.

Liberty Stride won well too and in a time faster than Ultimate Stride.

Will be good to see how they shape up in the future.

[Dougie]

Sadly for Phil Ultimate Stride staying here in aussie, man he smashed that field last night.

Going to be on next season when he goes up against Tornado Valley.

[Enteebee]

One of the proudest nights of Phil Williamson’s career has come at a cost.

But the Kiwi trainer isn’t about to let that take the gloss off his group one double in the space of 35 minutes at Melton in Victoria on Saturday night.

Williamson produced Liberty Stride (three-year-old fillies) and Ultimate Stride (two-year-old boys) to record massive wins in their divisions of the Breeders Crown, the first winning by 19.4m which seemed like a dramatic demolition job until Ultimate Stride nearly doubled that, winning his final by 37.8m after sitting parked.

That set up a Kiwi clean sweep of the only three trotting finals they contested at the rich Breeders Crown meeting with Kratos a promoted winner of the A$80,000 three-year-old trot final after first past the post All Cashed Up, who beat him by a nose, was relegated for galloping.

His win was the fifth Breeders Crown success for South Auckland trainers John Dickie but while he and son Josh had to have their little trotter trained to perfection to win, Williamson was still the star of the show.

Liberty Stride was unheralded just two months ago yet her development curve has been so steep she now rates as one of the most exciting young trotters in Australasia, but Williamson won’t get to take her to the next level next campaign.

Owner Emilio Rosati has decided to leave Liberty Stride in Victoria to be trained by Brent Lilley whereas Williamson will be bringing Ultimate Stride home.

“Emilio bought her (Liberty Stride) off us so he gets to make those choices and it is hard to argue with because there isn’t a lot here for a four-year-old trotting mare,” says Williamson.

“So if she qualifies for the Australian invite for the Jewels we might get her back but I’m sure what Emilio does with her long-term will depend on how she is racing.”

Williamson was stoked by his first group one double, especially after spending nearly six weeks in Australia training just the two horses.

“I think we had eight starts here for six wins, a second and gallop so they have really done us proud.

“I was pretty excited last night. Group one don’t usually come easy but they both absolutely bolted in so I had time to enjoy them.”Ultimate Stride’s win was a bonus for Williamson who originally thought his juvenile season was over until Sydney-based Rosati talked him into tackling the Crown.

“It was a real after thought but he thrived on the trip and while it is only two-year-old racing I think everybody can see he is a real open class trotter in the making.”
While all three New Zealand-trained trotters won their finals the pacers had to settle for placings, with Best Western second in the three-year-old fillies final in which fellow Kiwi filly Princess Tiffany was surprisingly beaten into third after nothing went her way.