There's a good buzz around the Nathan Williamson stable as he prepares a large team for the new season from his Branxholme headquarters.

There's a mixture of new blood and an established line-up in the stable for the coming season and part of his 'early' team will be out at workouts, trials and races in the next few weeks. 

The first horse to appear will be Williamson's most highly assessed pacer Tas Man Bromac.

He only raced three times last season and his progress was hindered by a number of issues. 

"He's wintered well. I gave him a break after the Bluff Cup and he's freshened nicely. He got dehydrated going up to Kaikoura. I was getting him ready for the Cup races like the Roxburgh Cup and he pulled a muscle in his hind quarter and that sidelined him for a large part of the season. He'll go to Gore (Sunday) without a workout or trial so he's bound to improve from the run. In the grade he's in, he should be pretty competitive," Williamson said.

The six year old American Ideal gelding comes back with a R90 rating. From twenty nine starts he's won nine races.

Another pacer that had limited track time last season was Statham. He only lined up five times with his best performance being at his first start of the season when he finished second to Glenferrie Classic in the Cromwell Cup. 

"He won't race at Gore but will trial next week. He had a bit of a viral infection which curtailed his season. The infection was a hard one to track down. He's had plenty of work."

He too has been lightly raced, only lining up twenty one times in three seasons – winning six races. 

Another promising gelding by American Ideal, Foo Fighter, is also in work. He's currently being jogged by part-owner John Earl at his Oporo Flat farm. 

"He'll be back here in the first week of September. He was the same as Statham. He had something deep down in his lungs which we couldn't see with a scope. We've given him a good break and treated him and hopefully he'll bounce back this season." 

Promising filly Excellent hasn't returned to the stable yet but she's not too far away. The Somebeachsomewhere three year old did most of her racing in Auckland last season, running second in a heat of the Sires Stakes Two Year Old Fillies Series. 

"She ran a real good second first time up there and then she got crook. She's come back home and she's back jogging at the beach with Murray Little (owner)."

As you'd expect there's a good number of trotters in the barn, including recently named 'Southland Horse of the Year' Dark Horse (Bacardi Lindy), and also Poppymalda. Both have been nominated for the Hara's Des Trotteurs Dominion Handicap. 

"She (Poppymalda by Armbro Invasion) didn't really get a break. We've freshened her after her Forbury win and she'll be back at the races in September whereas Dark Horse won't be back until October." 

Another former stable runner De Vito is also nominated for the Dominion.  

"We had him nominated for the Rowe Cup but he ended up getting an abcess in his foot which must have been brewing for some time. He's still spelling in Auckland because we haven't been able to transport him home. He'll probably do his training in Auckland." 

Another trotter back on the active list is Grey Power. The eight year old by Monkey Bones was last sighted at Gore nearly eighteen months ago.

Ash, a four year old half brother to Larix, Given and Larch by The Pres hasn't returned to the stable yet. He's owned by Williamson's wife Katie along with Ben and Karen Calder.  

"He's still spelling. We took him up to Christchurch for a bit of a trip, we hope that'll be the making of him next year. He's a wee bit physically immature (but) he's quite a talented trotter so we're happy with him."

Some of the jog team at the Williamson stable                  Photo Bruce Stewart. 

The stable also appears to have a handful of handy three year olds.

Triroyale Brigade which started three times as a two year old last season is back in work. He was placed behind the likes of Ashley Lopez, Sicario and All U Need Is Faith. That form stacks up pretty well when you look at the races and stakes those three Purdon/Rassmussen horses have since won.

Another three year old colt Williamson has some time for is Franco Santino. He's a three year old by Christian Cullen out of the ten win mare San Rafaella (Western Ideal). He was purchased for $55,000 by stable client Neville Cleaver at the 2016 Sale of the Stars 

"We'll qualify him in the next month to six weeks and work out a plan for him."

One to watch out for down the track is an unregistered two year old colt.  

"I bred a Sundon out of Little Contessa. Dad lent her to me (the mare) for the season. He's a two year old now and Dad was in love with him so I think he was wishing he bred from her that year." 

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing