by Jonny Turner
The chance Hayden Douglas took on harness racing paid off twice more at Wyndham on Thursday.
The Oamaru junior driver reined home a winning double, with Magnetic Beckers toughing out a strong front-running victory immediately after
Princess Sadie’s successful return to racing.
Despite one being a trotter and the other a pacer, each horse wore about the same amount of gear in their wins.
“Magnetic Beckers has had the hopples off, and he just feels so strong now that he’s free-legged.”
“He’s really improved recently, and he showed that again today.”
Douglas proved he was more than up to the challenge of handling Princess Sadie in her return at Wyndham.
The four-year-old was facing the standing start tapes for the first time, in what became a four-horse field following two key scratchings.
The race had the potential to become a tactical affair, but Douglas ensured Princess Sadie was right where she needed to be.
“My job was on the line,” the junior driver quipped.
“She made it pretty easy for me — it was just a four-horse field and I just had to get her around.”
“She has the Silk Road Final next week which is the main goal, but to get a penalty-free win first is nice.”
“She did it under her own steam — she did it fairly easily, I thought.”
Thursday’s double continues Douglas’ success since joining the Matthew Williamson stable.
Though in his second season on the track, it wasn’t until early this year that the reinsman moved into a full-time position in the harness racing industry.
When the Williamson stable had a vacancy for a junior driver, Douglas quit his job in Invercargill and headed to Oamaru.
“I had a really good job, and it was a tough decision to move up to Matty and Charlotte’s.”
“I was having some sleepless nights thinking it over, but ever since I made the decision, I haven’t had any regrets.”
“So that tells me it’s been the right decision.”
“Matty and Charlotte have been really supportive, getting to drive a horse like Princess Sadie has been pretty unreal.”
Douglas’ Wyndham double took him to 13 wins for 2025, already equalling his 2024 tally.