Hurrell assesses options with Heez Good at Winton

By Jonny Turner

Race tempo is set to be a crucial factor for one of the big chances in the final leg of today’s $30,000 guaranteed quaddie at Winton.

Heez Good brings the right kind of form to race 10, but starting from barrier 8 means the pacer is going to need some circumstances to go his way.

A genuine race tempo could be the biggest aid to the Craig Ferguson trained pacer and with boosted $20,000 stakes for Friday’s Winter Rewards Finals, it looks highly likely to come.

“He has shown that he can do work in his races, he sat outside them and won his last start at Winton,” driver Mark Hurrell said.

“But if they go hard enough he won’t have to.”

“It will just depend on what happens, if they back it off we will have to get around them.”

“He hasn’t had a run for a couple of weeks but his work has been quite good.”

Nathan Williamson starts two key runners in the third leg of today’s quaddie – race 9.

Hangin With Hector and Durrant both come into the event on the back of last start victories.

Both Williamson runners have copped second row draws with Hangin With Hector to carry the 13 saddlecloth and Durrant with number 10.

Durrant’s superior draw is one of the reason Williamson rates him slightly ahead of Hangin With Hector.

“Before he went into his last start we were happy with him, but he seems to have thrived since then.”

“He’s in the zone at the moment and I think he could be hard to beat with the right run.”

The name Williamson is the key ingredient in the second leg of today’s quaddie, as is the case in most southern trotting races.

Phil and Brad Williamson combine with the likely favourite in Majestic Love, who will be looking to bounce back to form after a tough trip told in her latest outing at Wyndham.

Phil and Nathan Williamson also line up Dwindle Star in the same race, while Matthew Williamson starts Winning Bones.

The latter shouldn’t be underestimated despite what may have looked like a fair last start third at Wyndham.

“They went a fast time he had to come wide and he kept giving,” Williamson said.

“From a good draw, he should step and race handy and he looks like an eachway chance.”

Race 7 – the second leg of today’s quaddie – is a wide-open affair.

Tartan Raider and Fireforefiddle each have genuine winning claims, as do Jonique, Jenny Gump and Cast No Shadow.

Coaster looks one of the key horses to follow outside of today’s late quaddie races.

The pacer will have his first start in race 4 after impressing in his recent trials.

The Brent McIntyre trained three-year-old downed race winners in the latest of those outings showing he is well up to winning a maiden race at short notice.

“He is a pretty nice horse and he is getting better and better,” McIntyre said.

“It is his first start and you never know what might happen but we do think he is a very nice horse in the making.”

Nathan Williamson also takes the reins behind Coaster.