After recording her 1,000th win in the saddle in September, veteran jockey Kylie Williams had just one final goal she wanted to achieve before hanging up her riding boots – ride against her son, Logan Bates.
Saturday’s two $50,000 open handicaps at Riccarton were won by a pair of former Matamata horses who seem to be loving their new lives in the South Island.
A decision to run Short out of grade in Sunday’s Hype Landscaping and Washrite Wairio Cup (2200m) paid off in a big way for local Invercargill trainer Anna Hewitson.
“He doesn’t mind a heavy track. He’s not very big, but he’s quite strong and he has got that will to win. Having topweight is the biggest concern though."
“She was given a phenomenal ride by Kylie Williams, and when she’s ridden like that, she has the ability to be quite explosive. She showed that today."
Matamata visitor Harlech made the trip down to Wingatui on Saturday a profitable one as he blitzed his rivals by four lengths in the Listed Nellies Restaurant & Bar Hazlett Stakes (1400m).
“I gave his first-up run a pass mark, but I really wanted to see a performance like this from him today. Very happy with that, and now we’ll go home and have a think about what we do next.”
