The well performed trotter Alley Way died on Friday.
“We were ready to work him and stopped because all was not well and took him back to the stable and he died of a heart attack,” said his Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson.
The 8-year-old Alley Way had twice finished second in four starts after joining the Williamson stable this season. The Monarchy – No Way gelding won 11 races when trained at Winton by Neville Skinner who raced him with Judith and David Ward, of Balclutha and Grant McMaster, of Queenstown. He was bred by Neville and his father, Maurice.
Alley Way finished second to Master Lavros in the 2015 Dominion Handicap and third to Stent and Master Lavros in the Rowe Cup the same year.
Mon Archie Way, a last start winner at Invercargill on November 27 from the Williamson stable for the same owners, is back with Skinner.
“We had him (Mon Archie Way) to train when his owner was busy. The horse was to have a spell after his win,” said Williamson.
Mon Archie Way is by Monarchy from Whizz Way, the dam of No Way and well performed Idid It Myway. Alley Way was the first foal of No Way, a winner by Armbro Invasion. Mon Archie Way is the ninth progeny of Whizz Way.
Williamson will shift a team of some 20 horses to Cromwell later in the week, an annual occurrence for Christmas – New Year racing. The team will include promising trotters Zoey’s Gift and Davey Mac, who both qualified in fast time at Oamaru on December 3.
“We plan to start Davey Mac (the namesake of Southland racing commentator, Dave McDonald) at Winton on December 29 and are yet to sort out a race for Zoey’s Gift.”
Tayler Strong