Home town trotter delivers at Methven

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Hobby trainer Stephen Williams feared it wasn't going to work out with his trotter Lauzelle.

"I was more or less finished with him," says Williams, who bred, races and trains the Majestic Son three-year-old.  

But then yesterday at Methven, the track where he is the course manager, the three-year-old won on debut by a nose in the Pendene Farm Trot.

"I was pleased with that, I wasn't sure what he was going to do, he's got the ability but his old brain isn't sorted out," says Williams, "but we will get there one day."

The key Williams has worked out is to make sure Lauzelle has company. 

"I don't put him in the cart by himself. I have to make sure there are other horses around otherwise he'll try and kick me out of the cart."

"If he's by himself I'll just put him in behind the jogger."

By Majestic Son out of Williams' four-race winner Brylin Paige, Lauzelle was a bit slow from the stand before making a move up to three back the running line with 1000 to go.

Leo O'Reilly peeled out before the home turn and maintained a determined finish to overhaul the pace-making B K Mumma Jamie and then hold out a fast finishing Gimme Three Steps.

Lauzelle's debut came after he finished second in a recent trial behind subsequent race winner Amistozo. The John Morrison-trained trotter followed up that win at Oamaru with a second placing at Methven yesterday behind Father Mike. 

Now retired, Williams lives close to the Mt Harding racecourse.

Since August he's been working part-time as course manager.  

"I'm just helping them out ... I'm not sure how long I'm going to be there."

As for Lauzelle he's back in the good books with Williams, who's hoping that yesterday's win is a turning point for the one-time "problem horse".