Alderbeck today became the first winner of the new harness racing season for quiet achievers Phil and Bev Williamson.
After accepting the award for "Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing" at the national awards last Thursday, it was business as usual for the duo at the Oamaru harness racing club this afternoon (Sunday).
Alderbeck was Phil Williamson's 546th winner since he started training in 1993.
526 of those wins or 96% have come from trotters proving what a great trainer of trotters Phil is.
Phil was fairly confident of a good showing today from Alderbeck, saying " I think she will go a good race but I would not be putting the house on it at the short odds she is at today."
He said "there are quite a few in that race that could win with the right run".
Son Brad gave punters of the favorite no cause for concern, firstly sitting parked and then pulling away in the straight to win easily by more than two lengths at the line.
Alderbeck (Pegasus Spur – J D Pat) trotted the 2600m race in a quick 3:20.2, with a closing 800m in 58.4 seconds.
Earlier in the day Bite The Bullet (Mach Three – Pistol Packing Mama) blasted home from the 800m in 54.2 to beat stablemate Dreams To Reality by a head giving John Dunn his second win of the season.
Young trainer Mitchell Kerr has started the 2017/2018 season with a bang as another 3yo colt he trains in Alta Shelby easily won the last race at todays meeting.
Alta Shelby (Mach Three – La Joconde) led for the last lap for driver Matt Anderson and sprinted his last 400m in a quick 27.4 seconds winning with plenty of petrol left in the tank.
Kerr has gone to the top of the leaderboard in the trainers premiership with 3 wins from 3 starters giving him a perfect UDR of 1.0000 from his three starts so far this season.
Alderbeck winning her race.
Harnesslink Media