Williamson given all clear to return to driving

By Adam Hamilton

Nathan Williamson will cap his remarkable return from a life-threatening race fall to return to driving next week.

Williamson, 37, was thrilled when given the all clear by his doctor to return to race driving just three months after he crashed to the track at Alexandra Park on December 12.

He was driving his brilliant young mare Captains Mistress as she looked set for victory in the Group 1 Queen of Hearts when the sulky seat malfunctioned and Williamson was cannoned into the track.

He was rushed to hospital with bleeding on the brain and placed in an induced coma for three days.

“This is a great day,” he said. “I’ve been driving a few at home without any issues, so I was confident I’d get the OK, but to actually get the tick is fantastic.”

“There are races here (Wyndham) next Thursday. I’m planning on having a couple in, so I’ll hopefully have a drive or two there.

“I’ll be easing back into it for sure.

“I’ll just be driving my own horses and not taking outside drives for a while, anyway.”

Tomorrow night Captains Mistress will try to become the first four-year-old mare to win the Miracle Mile at Menangle race since the race was first run in 1967.

She has won seven straight since moving across from NZ to join Jason Grimson’s Menangle stable.

It promises to be an unmissable star-studded affair with Captains Mistress a $3.80 second favourite behind Leap To Fame ($2.30) with dual New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee next at $5. 

The Miracle Mile is set to go at 11.55pm NZT.