Wonder night at Interdoms for Southern horses

A spectacular night of racing at Albion Park last night had plenty to like about it, especially if you’re from Southland in New Zealand.

All three of the Group One winners in the main races were bred by southerners and all were developed by Branxholme trainer Nathan Williamson in what must be a rarity in the sport.

“I’m proud to say they were all nurtured here, brought along quietly and always looked after. Now that they’ve reached maturity they’ve gone on to do great things,” Williamson said after Palladium (Bettor’s Delight), Gus (Majestic Son) and Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) all outstandingly won their feature races.

In beating Leap To Fame, Captains Mistress joins the Southland honours board of Inter Dominion winners – Cardigan Bay in 1963, Robin Dundee 1965, Stella Frost 1971, Young Quinn 1975, and Im Themightyquinn in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Both Captains Mistress and Palladium were bred by Central Southland Breeders Todd and Fleur Anderson. Captains Mistress was bought privately as a weanling by Australian Mick Boots while Palladium was bought by Boots for $200,000 at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales.

Trained by Chantal Turpin, the win by Gus in last night’s Id26 Ladbrokes Inter-Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final took his earnings to over $900,000 and he’s one of the few trotters to win the Inter Dominion (twice), Dominion and New Zealand Trotting FFA.

“It was a brilliant drive by Pete McMullen. He was as cool as and just made all the right moves. He didn’t get caught up in the hype because he was a $1.40 favourite.”

Gus was bred by Nathan and is the last foal of talented mare Kylie Ree.

“She got really ill with cancer in her throat. Once she had him and he was weaned we had to put her down which was really sad. She did a marvellous job getting him through.”

Gus qualified for Williamson.

“He was a lovely horse at home. We only had him for the two race day starts. He could get a little bit hot at times. We thought we had mastered that but at his first start he made a hash of it and galloped. The start he won, he got a bit silly coming into line, missed away and staged a huge performance to win.”

The horse was under offer and was sold to Australian Ross Patrick with local agent Geoff Gibson-Smith negotiating the transaction.

“You sell them for big money and you hope they go on and do a good job. I knew he was a very fast horse but I didn’t know how tough he’d be. It’s turned out that he’s super tough and has kept going from strength to strength.”

Although Kylie Ree is not around, all is not lost. Williamson’s wife Katie is breeding out of a half sister to Gus in Hawaiian Hula (Dream Vacation).

Her first foal Diva Bee (Marcoola) has won once in just four starts for Williamson, while Mark Hurrell bred Makani, (Majestic Son) a recent winner for Sam Payne at Addington.

“Her next foal by Father Patrick was sold at the yearling sales and my brother Matty bought it. It qualified as a two year old. The one I’m really excited about is by Majestic Son, making him a three quarter brother to Gus. He’s a yearling now and he bowls around really nice, so we’re pretty excited about him.”

The mare’s last foal is by Classic Connection and is owned by Georgia Goodman who works for Williamson.

“We had a few mares to bred from and had a bit on. I dare say she won’t be lent out again. As a mare she’s probably gone to the top of my broodmare band. She’s back in foal to Tactical Landing.”

Palladium’s win in the $150,000 Group One Ladbrokes Queensland Derby started the sensational night with a bang.

He was purchased by Boots for $200,000 out of the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale.

Early on, Williamson touted him as his ‘Supremacy’ horse but things didn’t go to plan.

“He was down to race in March at Gore and I had to scratch him. He hurt himself in the paddock the day before. He just did the splits and really hurt himself bad in the stifle.”

That required time off which put Williamson behind in his preparation for the April feature, the Southern Supremacy Stakes.

“He had to run in a heat a fortnight before the Supremacy because he hadn’t run in any and he was going there very underdone.”

He finished eighth.

“We didn’t have enough time to get him ready for the Supremacy. He ran a creditable fifth in the final. I then had to back off and train him into his next few starts. He went really good in his last start at Winton but he was still learning his craft. I talked Mick into taking him over to Australia for the Queensland Derby just because I thought he’d be a chance.”

The gelding was sent to Brad Hewitt’s barn and in his two starts for his new stable he’s  now won over $120,000.

“He’s a quirky wee horse and it took him a wee while to settle in. I spoke to Brad a few times and he obviously had time for him. He was a good wee horse on the up and up. He’s a typical Bettor’s and was waiting for you to throw some racing at him.”

Williamson conceded that without Hewitt’s first stringer Hollywood Strip in the Derby, it was an average Derby field.

“The win did not shock me at all. He’s got another chance down the track of having a crack at another Derby later on.”

The win by Captains Mistress in the $1,000,000 Pacing Championship Grand Final was the race of the night.

She sped to the front and while Leap To Fame was batting traffic issues, she managed to get a decent gap on the champ and held on to win by 1.2 metres.

“Leap To Fame was enormous as he always is. He does it every time. He’s never turned his toes up at a fight. In defeat it was one of his greatest runs.”

By winning The Rising Sun, Captains Mistress does not have to compete in the series and has received a Golden Ticket to the final. That in itself has caused plenty of controversy.

“This year was quite a bit different with the Golden Ticket and she got through to the final in a different way. That’s for other people to debate. In saying that, you’d probably say the Rising Sun was every bit as strong a race as some of the heats were.”

When asked if he’d be surprised if Captains Mistress was to venture back to New Zealand for the New Zealand Cup, he said he wouldn’t be surprised to see her here in November.

“There’s no hiding the fact that she’s gone to a whole different level since she’s been in Jason’s (trainer Jason Grimson) care. She was a phenomenal filly and certainly the best horse I’ve had anything to do with by quite some margin. So freakishly fast and so good. She’s gone from a mare who could compete in the New Zealand Cup, to one who if she didn’t win it she’ll push the one that does, very hard. I know that Mick doesn’t like to over-race his mares, so it’ll be interesting to see how long she does race on for.”

Williams says as well as Boots providing his southern base with quality bloodstock, plenty of credit should go to Bloodstock Agent Peter Lagan.

“A huge thanks to Peter. He’s got a terrific eye for a horse. He’s as genuine as they come. He’s been great at suggesting pedigrees or suggesting what he likes and doesn’t like. I know he really liked Palladium at the yearling sales and so did I. Mick wasn’t there that year so Peter bought him on behave of Mick. He’s bought really well for Mick and I can’t thank Peter enough.”

Williamson has a full-brother to Captains Mistress which Boots bought at this year’s sale for $180,000.

“He’s just finished his prep this week. I took some videos of him bowling around on Friday. I haven’t sent them to Mick because I thought he probably has enough on his plate this weekend. He’ll probably have six weeks off and come back in the spring. He’s showing some nice signs at this stage. He looks very much like her, but he’s got a different gait.  I loved her gait and as you saw last night she just floats over the ground. She finds going quick real easy. The one thing I’ll say about Mick is that he’s never in a panic to see what he’s got and that really allows the results to come out later.”

Williamson feels the Southland climate has it’s part to play too, in developing horses.

“It’s why Mick wanted horses with me initially because he’d bought many a nice horse out of Southland. I think it’s a bit to do with our climate. A lot of our horses have to be resilient. It could be wet one day and warm the next and they have a lot of different things thrown at them. They’re nurtured that way and when they get to Australia where it’s nice and warm all the time they just continue to thrive.”

So driven by good breeding, stock selection, nurturing, patient owners and excellent training, the rewards generally come through. And last night was a very good example of that.

“You try to work hard with every horse you’ve got. Different owners like Mick and Brendan Fahy have upped the quality of horses I’ve been able to train. It’s really good for business. I had an unlucky result I suppose with one of the best horses I’ve trained in Ragazzo Mach. He is a real superstar but he didn’t go on and do the job. This result should be good for business for the next twenty years!”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink