By Michael Guerin
Tim Williams knows things are about to step up a notch.
And while the in-form Canterbury horseman knows he has the horsepower to keep being a factor at Addington on Friday nights he knows the winners which flowed so steadily over the winter will be more hard fought from now on.
“Things are getting really competitive,” says Williams, the No.1 southern driver for Team Telfer.
“You look how strong the trials are on Wednesday then the fields at Addington this Friday and everything is going up a level.
“You have Mark and Nathan’s horses down here now, Hayden and Amanda (Cullen) bringing horses back and the Dunn team are back firing as they were always going to be.
“Add horses coming up for the deep south and we are going to have some very competitive racing in the next few months.”
That is highlighted by the $40,000 Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup on Friday, one of the highlights on a 13-race programme.
Williams will partner stunning fresh up winner Alta Meteor but he meets huge new challengers in Akuta and We Walk By Faith.
“Obviously it gets tougher now. Our guy was really good last start but then got crook so missed his next race.
“I am hoping he can step quickly this week and get in front of those other two but it will be a really good indication of where he stands.”
The Ian Dobson Memorial is similar in that Williams will drive the super impressive Bar Louie, who looks an open class horse in the making, but he will be up against Queensland Derby winner Rubira and Got The Chocolates.
“I know Bar Louie is a good horse but I will have some thinking to do around the start and whether we go forward or whether I drive him with a sit, which I think could really suit him.”
Friday also sees the $40,000 ITM Ordeal Cup in which Oscar Bonavena returns to his old home to take on arch rival Muscle Mountain while the whole night is laced with class, kicking off with unbeaten Southland juvenile filly Miki’s Deal returning to Addington in the opener.
To see Friday’s fields at Addington click here
