Angel out to clinch final spot

by Jonny Turner

Brad Williamson doesn’t want Aint No Angel to live up to her name in Friday’s last chance Southland Oaks qualifier.

The three-year-old has already done that by making an early mistake in her debut at Addington.

But the Oamaru filly redeemed herself in style when running a tough second, second up at Wyndham last week in another heat of the Southland Oaks series.

From barrier 3 in Friday’s heat, Aint No Angel looks well placed to book her place in next week’s final on Diamonds Day.

“We had a wee hiccup at Addington, she wanted to go a bit quick out of the gate but we put some pins in her hopples after that and she paced off the gate pretty good at Wyndham,” Williamson said.

“I am hoping she will do the same on Friday.”

“I like her and she is quite a nice filly and I am hoping she will go just as well again.”

Williamson combines with several key runners from the Alister Black camp on Friday.

Rightazz looks very hard to beat after going down narrowly in his last start in what looks to be a stronger race.

“He is a really good maiden,” Williamson said.

“The only query we have got with him on Friday is that it is his first start on a tighter track.”

“That is the only thing that could potentially hold him back – it is his first run at Invercargill and he is a great, big horse.”

“But if he gets around the track he is a good eachway chance.”

Williamson and Black also combine with Dont Ask in race 4.

Though she starts from a tough 20m mark over 2200m, the four-year-old looks to get a good shot at winning considering she has raced much stronger fields in the past.

“She has won around Ascot quite impressively and quite easily.”

“Her form has gone off a little bit in recent times but she is meeting a lot weaker field than she has been racing.”

“She is going to need a nice run, off that mark, but she can win.”

Williamson also reunites with the Black trained Sonny Maguire on Friday.

The three-year-old led up and ran fourth in the most recent Southern Supremacy Stakes heat won by Matt Major.

Matt Major and Beach Ball head Friday’s field.

“It is a very strong field, we will be looking for luck and if he gets it he can potentially run top three.”

Williamson also drives rougher chances Atarah (race 7) and Beauty Barry (race 9) at Ascot Park on Friday.