Racing: Last roll of the dice for Williamson

Promising trotter Springbank Richard has Phil Williamson concerned before the Rowe Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

If tomorrow was six months ago, Phil Williamson would be happy.

But it isn't and he isn't.

That is the unfortunate situation the astute southern trainer finds himself in before tomorrow night's $250,000 Canam Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park.

Williamson trains Springbank Richard, who is aiming to complete New Zealand trotting's most elite double after winning the Dominion Handicap at Addington in November.

The only problem is, since that wonderful performance, Springbank Richard has been racing like one of his legs fell off.

He was disappointing in his Australian campaign soon after, average during the New Zealand summer and then pathetic by his own standards in the NZ Trotting Champs last start.

So much so, Williamson is taking him in to tomorrow night's group one without a lead-up race in the last month.

"I made the decision to try something different and I think he might be better with one big effort, rather than racing last week and then going again," said Williamson.

"But I really don't know if it is going to work. If it doesn't, I'm a bit out of ideas."

Williamson says Springbank Richard is working every bit as good this week as he was when he won the Dominion or finished second to One Over Kenny in last year's Rowe.

Performances like that and his two Harness Jewels wins see him rated among the best trotters in the country. Well, they used to.

"If I was sure he was in the form he was six months ago then I think we would be very hard to beat on Friday," says Williamson.

"And he is working, and looks, like he is.

"But he was also trialling great and looked great before his last start and he was poor."

Williamson admits stablemate Leighton Hest is also struggling for peak fitness after missing some key lead-up races. "So we are going in with fingers crossed."

As one of Australasia's premier trainers of trotters Williamson doesn't hesitate when asked which rival he fears the most tomorrow night.

"Sundon's Gift by a mile. He has proven he is in One Over Kenny's class and she killed them in this race last year."

Williamson's comments were reflected in the TAB markets which opened yesterday, with Springbank Richard rated a $10 chance, a massive turnaround on the $2.50 he opened in the New Zealand Trotting Championship last start.

Sundon's Gift is the $3.80 favourite for the Rowe, ahead of Stylish Monarch and Pocaro at $5 and I Can Doosit at $5.50.

Bookmakers had trouble finding the favourite for the Messenger, with Sleepy Tripp at $4 only just ahead of Tintin In America, $4.20, Bonavista Bay at $4.50, Captain Joy at $5.50 and last Friday's Taylor Mile winner Second Wind paying $6.50.