Rowe Cup winner shines on IRT New Zealand Cup day

By Jonny Turner

Never doubt the old master. Maybe his hair is a little greyer than it once was.

Maybe the same can be said about his renowned moustache.

But his ability to produce a trotter to win on the biggest of stages hasn’t changed a bit.

With the Group 1 Dominion just three days away, Phil Williamson showed Love N The Port was back to his brilliant best with his front-running win in the Group 3 Worthy Queen Trot.

Driver Matthew Williamson paid tribute to his father Phil for his superb training effort with their striking chestnut who kept on trucking after finding the lead in the New Zealand Cup Day feature.

“That was a nice run today, he was back to where he should be,” Matthew said.

“He obviously had the big highlight winning the Rowe Cup but his form since then has been very patchy.

“But today is a step back in the right direction, showing he could run top-4 in the Dominion.

“I saw they ran a 56sec half (last 800m) and that’s the fastest he’s ever been.

“So, Dad has got him back on the right track.

“This time in he has gone two good races then two terrible ones, but Dad has got him right on the right day.

“Hopefully he can get him ready again in three days time.”

There have only been two editions of the Worthy Queen Trot on New Zealand Cup Day and Williamson stable has won them both.

Majestic Man took out the event last year, but when getting back from his 10m mark he was unable to quicken when his stablemate ran home in his excellent closing sectionals.

A placegetter in Love N The Port’s Rowe Cup win, Resolve ran home strongly to take second in the Worthy Queen showing she’s right on track for a big effort in the Dominion on Friday.

I Dream Of Jeannie trailed Love N The Port before fighting on for third.

The victory was Matthew Williamson’s second in the sulky with an Otago trotter on New Zealand Cup Day, after his victory with Cody Banner in race 1.