Indulge Me tipped to make winning return at Winton

By Jonny Turner 

Spring must be just around the corner.

As the end of a quiet winter approaches, Nathan Williamson will line up new firepower and a star filly as the Southern Surge kicks off at Winton on Sunday.

Indulge Me ($1.45) will start for the first time since her second in the Group 1 Northern Oaks in May when she takes on the opening round of the second edition of the Southern Surge, the Diamond Creek/SBSR Southern Surge Mobile Pace (2.53pm). 

Williamson admits that theoretically the three-year-old should take all sorts of beating, but he's been around long enough to know that she will need at least some breaks to go her way.

"She's a classy filly and on paper she should be winning that race, but they won't be running it on paper."

"It's a mile and we've drawn the second row, so we will need a little bit of luck."

"I'm hopeful two on the second row will pan out OK and we won't be trying to make a run wide from too far back."

Off The Canvas will have his first start as a three-year-old when resuming in a maiden heat of the Southern Surge.

Williamson hopes the pacer can make full use of barrier 1.

"He's come up nicely, he's only had the one trial and it was good."

"He raced some handy two-year-olds last year and I'd expect him to be running a pretty nice race back in maiden company."

Rise Up N Dance went down narrowly to Honeycomb in a Winter Rewards Final at Winton last week and will be out to go one better in his Southern Surge heat.

"I think the shorter distance is in his favour this week."

"From a nice draw (2) he would have to be right in it again."

Simply Amazing is another of the Williamson team expected to enjoy mile racing on Sunday.

"His last couple of runs have just been OK but we have changed his work around and he seems quite happy."

"The mile is right up his alley and the one draw is another plus for him."

After a solid recent trial effort, Rakmacknra will make his debut for Williamson on Sunday.

"His trial was good, he wound up nicely."

"He's improved right through this preparation and I'd expect him to try hard and run a pretty handy race."

"Drawing 6 over the mile is the main concern as there looks to be plenty of speed inside us."

Williamson also combines with a handy book of outside drives on day one of the Southern Surge.

Have A Little Faith and Redback Bob from the Phil Williamson barn look among his best winning chances.

To see the Winton fields click here