"Win a Share" horse gets Group placing on debut

By Jonny Turner 

In a matter of weeks Aaliyah has delivered results some owners wait for years to enjoy.

The filly had her first start at Ascot Park on Sunday after trainer Matthew Williamson and her breeder Andrew Fry teamed up to give away five racing shares in her.

Aaliyah made a brilliant start to her career when putting a Group 3 placing next to her name in just her first start in the Caduceus Club of Southland Alabar Fillies Classic.

That great effort came on the first of March, exactly three months after the announcement that five new owners had won lifetime racing shares her, as part of a promotion through the Williamson stable’s Facebook page.

Two of those owners were on track to witness Aaliyah’s big run which made for a nearly perfect introduction to harness racing ownership for them.

“We had Julie Allan and Ian Rolfe on track which was awesome, they got to see the filly and having her run such a nice race was the cherry on top, really,” Williamson said.

Fry bred Aaliyah from his talented former race mare Ariella.

He had already brought a big number of owners into the fold to race Aaliyah before he started working on a concept to give away racing shares in her.

“Andy’s a great owner and very passionate about the game, he came up with the idea and we loved it,” Williamson said.

“There has been a great vibe among the new owners and they were thrilled with the run on Sunday.”

Aaliyah putting a Group placing on the board just over two months into her two-year-old season has even surprised Williamson.

“We have always liked her but we probably didn’t expect to be this far along at this early stage.”

“She is still green but she is getting there all the time.”

“She galloped in her first trial and the new owners might have wondered what they had got themselves into.”

“But she is learning and getting more ringcraft all the time.”

“Her run on Sunday was great because there was a bit of trouble early and she handled everything really well.”

“It is a great start and it looks like she has a nice future so hopefully we can get our new owners into the winner’s circle before too long.”

Williamson plans to give Aaliyah another start in a two-year-old event before aiming her at the Group 3 Leonard Memorial next month.