Seven year old hits bookies hard

For the first time in his long harness racing career Phil Williamson lined up a seven year old trotter on debut and he won. More than a handful of happy punters made a killing on the tote, getting ten dollar fixed odds when the book opened.

Galleons Grandson (Majestic Son) took a firestorm of money and ended up paying $3.80 to win.

In today’s Mico Trot driver Brad Williamson settled the giant gelding in third place with Prohibited Bid (Volstead) making the pace.

Turning in, Galleons Grandson was within striking distance of the leader and trotted down to the line to win by three quarters of a length from a late finishing Petite Trixton (Trixton) with favourite Prohibited Bid finishing third.

GALLEONS GRANDSON REPLAY

The seven year old was offered as the first lot by Gary Allen and Cleland Murdoch at the 2018 Christchurch Yearling Sales but didn’t attract enough money for buyers to obtain the close relation to $633,013 earner Stent.

“Kevin Williams was bidding on behalf of Gary and I. Kevin took a half share and Gary and I kept a half share,” Murdoch said.

The horse spent the next six years at Kevin and Bonnie Williams Tall Tree Farm.

“Kevin kept hacking him around and telling me the horse wasn’t ready to go anywhere. Their daughter Kelly who’s running the business now, said to Kevin the gelding had been on the farm long enough and that Phil Williamson was coming to visit so that’s how the horse was put on the float.”

Williamson took on the task of training Galleons Grandson and after a month he rang Murdoch to tell him the horse was a nice maiden. That phone call was followed by another one this week.

“I got a phone call late on Thursday night from Phil saying that if I wanted to back the horse to get in on now because the price was going to tumble. I did have a few bob on him at tens.”

The win was tinged with sadness for Murdoch as Allen, his long time breeding partner and close friend, passed away a number of years ago.

“He would have loved this because this type of win is right up his alley. I’ve just been speaking to his widow Doreen and there was a bit of a lump in the throat.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink