Tim Williams racking up the kilometres and the wins

By Jonny Turner 

A pinpoint display in the Peters Genetics Roxburgh Cup with Double Jeopardy shows travel isn’t wearying Tim Williams.

The reinsman has been as busy as any in New Zealand over Christmas and New Year, driving on the West Coast, Canterbury, Auckland and in Central Otago.

The miles both on the road and in the air are clearly only helping his form if his results, including snaring the Roxburgh feature on Sunday, are anything to go by.

What may have been concerning early for his backers quickly turned to relief when Williams gave his charge a perfect trip in the one-one.

Gore Cup winners Always Dreaming and Matthew Williamson looked to gain an advantage over their main rivals when they landed in front of Williams and Double Jeopardy early.

But the second favourite proved it wasn’t a winning advantage when digging in late to outmuscle the runner-up and turn the tables on Always Dreaming after their Gore Cup clash.

“He was really good, we got a great trip,” Williams said.

“I learned a little bit more about him at Gore – what to do and what not to do.”

“Matty bowled along at a pretty good tempo which really suited him.”

“Once we worked into it he travelled up around the last bend really good.”

“It was a good feeling up the straight.”

While Williams has been a jet-setting driver recently, he is the first to admit he can’t be everywhere.

Double Jeopardy has been in the care of Williams’ partner Aimee Edmonds and based at Brett Gray’s barn in Southland during his Southern raid.

“Brett and Aimee said they were really happy with the horse and he was spot on today.”

“He is probably a horse that deserves to win a nice race like this, he has chased the good ones throughout his career.”

“It was good for him to get a good one.”

Stonewall Stud trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer just broke the longstanding record for number of wins in a New Zealand harness racing season.

If their start to 2026 is anything to go by, they will be out to break their own record this year.

That could put the record of 203 wins for most victories across either horse racing code, set by Mark Walker in 2022-23, in danger.

“We are fortunate to have big numbers and a big race team,” Williams said.

“You will see this year that Mandy has spread us around the countryside over the holidays.”

“With good stake money and the right races for the horses it works out well.”

“We are probably lucky that we have the staff to do it from the truck drivers through to the ground staff.”

The Stonewall Stud stable also produced Transonic to win at Roxburgh in the hands of their junior driver Nikita Burton.

Gray also got in on the winning action with Havtimewillfly running to a track-record breaking victory for driver Brent Barclay.