Williams has big weekend ahead

By Jonny Turner

Tim Williams starts a massive weekend in the sulky at Addington on Thursday night.

Key drives behind Bettor Twist in the Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes on Friday night and Wanna Play With Me in the Hambletonian Classic on Saturday await the reinsman following his seven steers at Addington.

Williams drives a full sister to one of his all-time favourite horses, Dream About Me, in race on Thursday night.

After impressing in her recent trials, Dream On Me looks hard to beat from barrier 1.

“She is still on the way up, she is probably not the finished product,” Williams said.

“But she has shown signs that she has some sort of the family ability.”

“I’m sure she will be improved off her last trial.”

“The small field and the good draw, she has a few positives there.”

Reverting back to mobile race should help Pace N Pride bounce back to his best for Williams after his shock gallop in his last visit to Addington.

From barrier 1 in race 6, Williams is expecting the three-year-old get every opportunity to bounce back to form.

“It was a bit uncharacteristic last week, he had gone far enough before he jumped out of it.”

“Obviously back to the mobile and the small field will definitely help him, there should be no excuses.”

I Dream Of Jeannie clashes with the smart Midnight Dash in race 7 with Williams in the sulky.

Though Midnight Dash should prove very hard to beat, the Sam Smolenski trained mare looks a genuine eachway chance.

“Obviously Midnight Dash will be hard to beat, he is the class horse of the field.”
“But she steps and puts herself in the race usually and she is capable of running in three in that field.”

Williams hasn’t driven the talented Hurricane Hill ahead of his start in race 3.

The trotter is still learning his trade, but clearly has the ability to beat the field he meets.

“I spoke to Robbie Close and he seems to think he is a good pickup drive, so we will see if he is a good judge.”

Williams also drives Smooth Debate in race 1, Saint Waitaki in race 4 and Cheapcheap in race 5 at Addington.

The reinsman will be out to land another feature race win with Bettor Twist at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

After copping yet another wide draw, the Hayden Cullen trained filly is again set to have to do it the hard way from barrier 7.

“The draws haven’t been really kind to her up there, but it is what it is,” Williams said.

“But she trialled super before she went back up there.”

“Hopefully that will go hard early and that will probably help us.”

Wanna Play With Me starts from barrier 6 in the Hambletonian Classic, which Williams is much more comfortable with.

“I wasn’t disappointed with her draw, the less we have used her early in her last four or five starts and she has raced better for it.”

“On paper the ones with the good draws over the mile might have their hand forced to used their draws.”

“Hopefully she can settle somewhere midfield in the running line and if they go hard I’m sure she will appreciate a good tempo.”

Italian Lad in race 7 at Ashburton looks another key drive for Williams this weekend.