Williamson stars not far from race day return

By Jonny Turner

Forgotten trotter Hidden Talent is on the comeback trail.

The trotting mare is among a talented team the trainer is working up to take on a host of feature races in the coming months.

Around this time last year, Hidden Talent’s stocks couldn’t have been much higher.

She had come off an excellent three-year-old season in which she competed with merit at Group 1 level.

But the blueblood wasn’t able to continue her progression at four, with Williamson opting to press the reset button on her career by sending her to the paddock after a couple of performances below her brilliant best.

If her recent training is anything to go by, the spelling paddock has brought the best back in Hidden Talent.

“This time last year she won really well first up before going to Oamaru where she faced a very testing track,” Williamson said.

“Looking back that is where her campaign derailed.”

“She hadn’t faced that sort of situation before where she was out on her feet.”

“She was inexperienced and taking on those hardened mares and even though she went a couple of handy races after that, she wasn’t able to show her best.”

“We gave her a good break and I have been really happy with the way she has been coming up.”

“I am looking at Gore towards the end of this month and I am pretty hopeful we will see the best of her this time in.”

Most of the big names among Williamson’s stable won’t be sighted at the races until October.

The trainer is timing his run into his big race targets with horses like Always Dreaming, Dreams Are Free and Miraculous.

Williamson’s star filly Captain Mistress is also at the same stage.

The half-sister to Merlin looked brilliant winning back-to-back Group 2 features before enjoying a spell in May.

“She is paid up for the (Group 1) Caduceus Club fillies race but I decided against heading up north with her.”

“She is coming up nicely and I will look to kick her off in October.”

Popular pacer Dreams Are Free is also on the comeback trail.

The three-year-old has a derby campaign on his agenda and he looks an early chance of making one of the recently announced three-year-old slot races at the New Zealand Cup Carnival.