Williams answers northern call

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Tim Williams may have only been with Stonewall Stud for a matter of weeks, but he is being well utilised by the dual-Island operation.

The Canterbury reinsman has recently joined the burgeoning operation’s South Island team and he said he is enjoying his new role.

“I started not long ago and it has been great. I am getting plenty of drives which is awesome,” he said.

“It’s (Stonewall Stud) getting bigger and bigger so you couldn’t wish to be in a better position.”

While the southern barn currently only has a dozen runners, with the development of a new training complex in Canterbury, those numbers are set to increase.

A large-scale operation is nothing new to Williams, having been associated with All Stars Stables for a number of years.

“It is a number you get familiar with, so it is a similar scale in that aspect,” he said.

“We are at Dancingonmoonlight at the moment out at Kaiapoi (until the new training complex is ready). We have got 12 out there at the moment.”

Stonewall Stud’s South Auckland base is currently under lockdown, however, they have been able to send their team south to race at Cambridge Raceway over the last few weeks.

While regular stable driver David Butcher has been able to be utilised, his Auckland-based son Benjamin has not, so trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer called on the services of Williams at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday.

It was a rewarding exercise, with Williams reining home debutant Fernleigh Cash to win the IRT – Your Horse Our Passion Mobile Pace (2200m) by a length over stablemate Mitch.

“He is a really nice horse,” Williams said. “They have been lacking for trials up here so to do what he did was a good effort.

“The race was run to suit and his ability came through.”

Williams will head back home on Friday where he has a solid book of drives at Addington Raceway.

He will steer the Telfer-trained Sing To Me in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace (1980m) where the three-year-old filly will be vying to make it back-to-back wins after scoring at Ashburton last weekend.

“She went nice on Sunday,” Williams said. “It is a bit of a step up in grade this week but she shouldn’t disgrace herself, she is a pretty honest wee filly.”

Stablemate Kerri Maguire is another who has been in good form, having won and placed in her last two starts, and has drawn handy in gate two for the Spectators Bar – New Hours! Mobile Pace (1980m).

“She went good two weeks ago and the way she went she is going to be another great chance in what is an even field,” Williams said.

His final runner for his new employers will be Cya Doit in the XCM Sport Mobile Pace (1980m).

“He has trialled up well,” Williams said. “He might need a touch of luck from the draw (10), but if he gets half a crack he will be running on at the finish.”