By Jonny Turner
Nathan Williamson’s tactics are going to have to be as flawless as Passchendaele’s record from his barn on day one of the Southern Surge at Winton today.
A quiet winter for the trainer’s stable is set to heat up with the Southern Surge series luring four Williamson runners back to the races.
Among them is Passchendaele, who has unleashed two outstanding performances in his only two starts for the trainer-driver.
The four-year-old is arguably the best horse in the Diamond Creek/SBSR Southern Surge Series Mobile Pace (3.18pm) but barrier 13 looks a big leveller for his opposition.
If nothing else – it sets up a tactical challenge for Williamson.
“I think Passchendaele would be the best chance of my four – but the draw means it’s not going to be easy for him.”
“He is quite an athletic horse and it doesn’t take a lot to keep him up to the mark, so he is quite forward.”
“It will be interesting to see how it all works out, how they run it up front could dictate when we can work into it.”
“But if he gets a bit of luck, they will know he’s there, for sure.”
Williamson has gone with impressive recent trialist Party Up Denario as the biggest winning threat among his drives outside of his stable runners.
The three-year-old zipped to a slick workout win at Winton last week.
Though like Passchendaele, the filly has a tricky draw to contend with in barrier 8.
“I was driving something else in that trial and she zipped past us quite impressively.”
“The draw isn’t ideal but with only the nine in it, that should be a help.”
“She looks to have a bit more upside than a few in that field and she looks a great chance.”
Also, from the Brett Gray stable and also a good recent workout winner, Our Twinkle looks another key chance for Williamson.
Foxing Easton, Sargent Best, Always B Royal and Southside Of Heaven all look each way threats for the reinsman.
Clotilde Wainwright looks another good hope for the Williamson barn, though the mare runs into a potential emerging star in Tarragindi.
“I was quite pleased with her at the workouts last week.”
“Obviously Tarragindi will be very hard to beat but I think she will run a nice race.”
Rise Up N Dance is set to start a short-priced favourite on day one of the Southern Surge, as he has done in many of his starts.
That’s despite the horse not being seen on the trials track ahead of his return.
“He hasn’t had a workout, so I am expecting him to improve with this run.”
“He should be pretty competitive, but he is racing horses that have had a lot of racing.”
Black Pat is also among the four-strong team Williamson starts on Sunday.
