Young Breeders - Katie and Nathan Williamson

With the help of Katie Williamson’s parents Ross and Robyn Jones, she and her trainer husband Nathan are able to juggle their busy lives to include breeding from some well-related mares.

Adjoining Nathan’s stable, the family has a purpose-built breeding station with accommodation for foal watch, so everything is handy.

Ross and Robyn are well versed in all things breeding having run Kina Craig Stud in Northern Southland for a number of years.

Katie who is a full time schoolteacher and mother of three and Nathan live in Southland and have four mares on their books; Hopes And Dreams, Hawaiian Hula, Millies Gift and Poppymalda. They also borrowed Shut Up N Dance last breeding season.

Seven win race mare Hopes And Dreams (Christian Cullen – One Dream) has left four foals with the last two bred by Katie and her parents.

“She’s a Christian Cullen mare. They’re very sought after and she’s out of a champion, One Dream. She was a very good mare herself and won a Wairio Cup. Being a Cullen, she’s gone to Bettor’s Delight a few times and I think she’s hit the jackpot with the last one,” Nathan said.

Her third foal Bettor Dream has won twice and was placed four times for Brent and Tim White, while I’m The Boss has won twice for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen. Her wins include the G3 Leonard Memorial at Addington.

Hopes And Dreams is due to foal to Cattlewash.

“I follow the American breeding to see what’s clicking over there. I spoke at the SBSR Breeders night and I had to do a bit of study on stallions. I delved into Cattlewash’s pedigree and he was crossing extremely well with Art Major mares so I ended up borrowing an Art Major mare (Shut Up N Dance) to breed to him. Then I thought some of that Somebeachsomewhere line thrown into Hopes And Dreams’ pedigree wouldn’t hurt as well. She hasn’t left a colt yet so I thought, if we mix it up a bit we’ll get a colt.”

Hawaiian Hula is a daughter of Kylie Ree which makes her a half-sister to Gus. The Dream Vacation mare won once in a limited career on the racetrack.

She’s left two foals of racing age and both have been winners.

Diva Bee (Marcoola) has won one of her four starts for Williamson while Makani has won two of his six starts.

Hawaiian Hula’s third foal Oricorio was bought at the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales for $40,000 by Summit Bloodstock and recently qualified for Nathan’s younger brother Matty.

Katie and Nathan have a Majestic Son colt out of the mare, while junior driver Georgia Goodman has a Classic Connection colt out of her.

“We had four broodmares here and I leant her out to good friend Mark Hurrell and he ended up breeding Makani who won impressively at Oamaru. Georgia who works for me, won a free service to Classic Connection at the Breeders night and she has a cracking yearling colt. She’s (Hawaiian Hula) in foal again to Tactical Landing. Hopefully it’s a filly and it might be one to keep.”

The Williamsons also have a Majestic Son weanling colt out of Hawaiian Hula.

“I’ve broken him in and he goes along really nice. I really like him. He could be one that perhaps might race much like Gus and if he showed a bit of ability we could sell him on.”

So Hawaiian Hula has turned into something of a breeding gem.

“The one I deemed as the least commercial has turned into the most commercial over the last year but that’s how things can work. I’m pretty excited about what she’s done as a broodmare.”

Armbro Invasion mare Poppymalda after a slow start to her breeding career, has four foals on the ground including Clotilde Wainwright, the winner of four from eleven.

Her other foals are Cletusmalda, a What The Hill colt, Patsymalda, a Father Patrick filly and an unregistered Six Pack filly.

“The What The Hill fella goes along alright. He’s not in work at the moment but he’s due back in and he’ll qualify. The Father Patrick filly is due another prep. It’s funny because she’s an absolute giant. She’s as big as Clotilde is small. She’s a beautiful trotter but is just going to need a bit of time.”

Nathan shares in the ownership of Poppymalda with Ross and Robyn Jones and members of the Dent family.

The Williamsons are breeding from another well-bred mare – nine year old Millie’s Gift.

She’s by Muscle Hill mare out of Group One winning mare Jasmyn’s Gift and her first foal by Bold Eagle named Aquila Audax was bought at the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales by Stonewall Stud for $60,000. He recently qualified at Rangiora. Her second foal is a colt by Father Patrick and she’s due to foal to Gimpanzee.

“I was thinking I might sell the Father Patrick but I’ve decided not to. He’s a beautiful looking yearling and I’m excited about how he looks.”

Smart racehorse Shut Up N Dance who won her only three starts for Regan Todd, has left three foals all bred by Dayle and Kay Kinzett.

Her first foal a three year old Hush Up N Dance (American Ideal) is in work at the Williamson stable, while her other two foals Lather Up N Dance (Lather Up) and Rock Up N Dance (Always B Miki) are both untried. She’s due to foal to Cattlewash.

“I was super lucky. Dayle asked me if I wanted to breed one from any of his mares. He’s got such a good breed so I jumped at the opportunity. When I was looking into Cattlewash for the Breeders Night I noticed that three of the top five Cattlewashes in America were all out of Art Major mares.”

The NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales have been good to Katie and Nathan. They sold three yearlings at last year’s Sales; Oricorio fetched $40,000, Aquila Audax sold for $60,000 and I’m The Boss went for $70,000.

They were part of the SBSR draft and prepared by John and Katrina Price.

“All of them have qualified as two year olds so that was kind of cool.”

The Williamsons are also thinking about breeding from the recently retired Black Pat. She’s a three win What The Hill mare out of Here Comes Pat and a half-sister to Humble Ladd, the winner of fourteen.

“It’s a harder way to get a nice horse. It’s not easy, but if you’re smart about it, it’s the cheaper way. You can breed a nice horse for less than buying a top quality one at the Sales.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink