By Jonny Turner
Clotilde Wainwright should find life a lot easier when she returns to Gore on Sunday.
In her last visit to Eastern Southland, the four-year-old ran a fighting third behind one of the rising stars of New Zealand trotting in Tarragindi.
This time the Nathan Williamson-trained mare slots into a Gold Chip Final, taking on maidens and one and two-win trotters.
And it has made her a clear top-pick in early betting.
“She would be my best chance on Sunday,” Williamson said.
“Her last run at Gore was really good and it is a step back from what she has been racing.”
“She went a solid race at Addington and she’s come home and freshened up well.”
“I was happy with her workout last week, it was just a quiet hit-out.”
“You’d think she would be a nice chance, stepping back in class.”
Williamson lines up one more runner from his stable on Sunday in Palladium.
Like his stablemate, the two-year-old has had a trip to Addington and a quick freshener ahead of his Gore outing.
“Having the trip to Christchurch and a race under his belt has been beneficial to him.”
“He’s a progressive horse, but he is still quite green and he’s still figuring out what it’s all about.”
Williamson’s outside drives are headed by the highly impressive Winton winner from in Rock Band.
The Stonewall Stud pacer sat parked in tough conditions last week before powering to a big win.
“It was a big effort in the conditions.”
“1700m is a different ask but he began well last week and if he turns up in that sort of form he is going to be hard to beat.”
Rakamick looks another big winning threat for Williamson on Sunday.
The pacer has gone two big races in his two starts on the Gore all-weather, while also placing on grass there too.
“The last time I drove him he only just got beaten by a nice one on the grass at Gore.”
“He’s very consistent and he looks a good chance again.”
Leithen Louie looks well capable of stepping up in grade on Sunday after his last start maiden win at Ascot Park.
The pacer is one of two horses Williamson will link up with from the Tony Stratford stable, alongside La Dama.
Styx Jewel looks another serious winning hope for the reinsman, while Haley Robyn is another solid threat.
To see the Gore fields click here