Williams glad to tick off another milestone

[Wandering Eyes]

Popular Christchurch jockey Kylie Williams has her sights set on her next milestone after a triumphant double at Wingatui last Saturday brought up her 800th New Zealand win.

Williams, 42, jokes that she doesn’t have the energy to chase down 1000 wins but with an aim of climbing the next rung of the South Island ladder, she said she is targeting Ali Robinson’s 828 wins.

“I really don’t know if I’ve got the energy to ride another 200 winners but I’ll just keep taking it day to day and see what happens,” she said.

“Actually Matthew Barnsley told me Ali Robinson is on 828 South Island winners so that might be the next goal to pass.

“It was pretty good to get to 800 wins, considering I only ride in the South Island. There’s been three kids and probably five or six hospital trips keeping me off the scene along the way too so it was pretty cool to bring up 800 wins.

“I’ve been sticking to the good karma lately and everything has been going pretty well.”

Williams brought up her 800th winner aboard the Robert Dennis-trained Savezar in the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m).

“She should go on with it too. Hopefully she can win the Dunedin Cup next,” Williams said.

“Any win is good, whether that be a maiden or a Group race, though sometimes who it is for makes it that bit more special. I guess my 700th win for Tony Prendergast stands put in that respect.

“I’ve had a couple of second placings in Group Ones. Pins ‘N’ Needles ran second in the Thorndon Mile and third in the (New Zealand) Oaks on Feel The Rush.”

Williams has a full book of eight rides at Riccarton on Thursday, consisting of Grandiloquent, Prima Donna, Dubai Lady, Lipa Mala, Medalza, Harbourside, Volvik and Vulture Street.

“Harbourside has drawn well and he’s always consistent so he should go well,” she said.

“And the two maiden horses of Andrew Carston’s, Dubai Lady and Prima Donna. I quite like Prima Donna. She hasn’t had much luck so far and I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran in the money. She got buried on the fence at Kurow and she’s quite a big filly and needs room to keep her legs going. 

“Dubai Lady just got unbalanced on the tight corner at Kumara and took a while to get balanced up again, so with a straight run, you’d think she’d be hard to beat.”

Williams trains Grandiloquent herself and was buoyed enough with the Makfi four-year-old gelding’s fifth placing at Wingatui on Saturday to back him up.

“He was on his last chance at Dunedin so he got a reprieve. He’s a day-to-day proposition that one. He’s got more issues than a guest on Jeremy Kyle,” Williams quipped.

“I’m backing him up which I wouldn’t normally do but he’s come through the race well and there’s nothing for him till the end of February so he can have a break after this one.”

Williams’ other racehorse in work is Just Maybe, a first-up winner in the South Island last month which has set her up for a shot at the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on March 5.

Mum-of-three Williams is looking forward to the next generation on the racetrack, with her 20-year-old son Logan Bates on the cusp of a riding career in Melbourne.

“He works for Cindy Alderson at Cranbourne and he’s just got to pass a medical and drug testing to get into the Melbourne apprentice school. He’s been working pretty hard for that so that’s really exciting,” said Williams, whose other children Rico and Rhiarn are aged 14 and five.

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