Simply Amazing "nice chance" for Williamson stable at Winton today

By Jonny Turner 

Ollie Kite will find himself in the trotting hotseat at Winton on Thursday.

With boss Nathan Williamson on a Group 1 campaign in Auckland, the popular reinsman has stepped up to run the cutter at their leading stable over the past fortnight. 

With Williamson out of the sulky on race day, Kite will jump in behind two serious winning chances.

Kite will be reunited with Hidden Talent in Race 5, the Uppercuts Butchery Mobile Trot (3.00pm). He will again clash with Fiery Bandito after her third at the recent Diamonds Day meeting.  

The pair were highly impressive winners the only time they have previously linked up at Winton and Kite hopes they can produce something similar on Thursday.

"We have got on pretty good in the past so hopefully she can go good for me this week."

"She seems well, she ran on pretty well on Diamonds Day and she lost a shoe, so that didn't help things."

"If she can behave herself she should be a pretty good top-three chance."

With her sharp turn of foot, Thursday's small field of six runners looks to play into Hidden Talent's hands.

"With the small field we should be able to drive her to her strengths, which is her speed."

"The big thing is if she brings her manners, hopefully she does because she’s been working good.”

Kite will also link up with Williamson stable newcomer Shakedown in Thursday's maiden trot.

The square-gaiter has made plenty of mistakes at the races, but showed he may be ready to put that behind him with a faultless win in a recent workout.

"He was really good at the workouts and you'd think he would be a pretty good top three chance on that run."

"It is a different story doing it at the races, he will need to bring his manners because he’s missed away a few times.”

“Fingers crossed he does everything right.”

The Williamson barn starts five horses at Thursday's meeting and Kite rates Simply Amazing (Race 4 - 2.35pm) the best winning threat among them.

The three-year-old had been chasing smart types in age group company before a recent freshener.

"He has been racing the Southern Supremacy horses so it is a big step back for him."

"His last workout was really good, so he should be a nice chance."

Simply Amazing takes on his stablemate Rise Up N Dance who has also had a slight freshen up after a disappointing last start outing at Winton.

The stable also starts Beaudiene Quick Step in Thursday's finale.