Racing: Springbank Richard eyes Interdoms

In the space of just four minutes yesterday Phil Williamson proved why he is a great trainer and why he should leave the driving to his sons.

Williamson completed his ascendancy to one of our greatest trainers of trotters when Springbank Richard fought off second favourite Sovereignty to win the $250,000 Dominion Handicap.

It was a triumph for patience and courage, the first by the trainer and the second by his son, Nathan, who drove the winner.

Phil's patience showed when he allowed Springbank Richard to miss a $100,000 race on Tuesday for which he would have been favourite so he could be perfect for yesterday's race.

Then Nathan had to make two daring decisions during the 3200m event, the first one to attack Sovereignty to get the lead and the second to repel the mid-race challenge of Speculate.

That was the winning of the race, with Springbank Richard almost certainly losing had Nathan taken any other option - which is exactly what his father would have done. Phil watched the race with the Herald and first thought Nathan should have not pressed Sovereignty for the lead and then later suggested aloud he should hand up to Speculate.

"But that is why I am sitting here and he is out there," he laughed after the race.

"Being the trainer I would have driven him kinder and been easier on him but Nath had the belief in the horse that he could do it.

"That is why he is such a good driver and I am just as proud of him as I am of the horse."

That family pride sums up the Williamson success story.

Phil trains with wife Bev while sons Nathan and Mathew drive, their combined efforts carrying them from virtual unknowns a decade ago to a feared racing machine.

Along the way they have collected every major New Zealand trot trophy with horses like Allegro Agitato, Jasmyn's Gift and One Over Kenny, but there is still one major target in the sights. "I would love to win the Interdominion and maybe this horse can do it," says Williamson.

"And we might go over there soon to get him ready for it."

That means Springbank Richard could bypass a clash with Stig at next month's Alexandra Park carnival to head to Melbourne for feature racing there next month, clashing with Victorian superstars Sundon's Gift and Skyvalley.

A successful campaign there would set him up nicely for the Interdominions, also in Victoria in February.

The six-year-old has already tasted success in Victoria, having won the Derby there two years ago as well as collecting two Harness Jewels titles.

"He is a pretty good horse, and I think he can keep getting better," said Williamson.

Williamson took over his training only as a three-year-old and he has tested all his training skills, with his high head carry leaving him prone to the occasional untimely gallop.

The riveting home-stretch battle was between two Harness Jewels stars, with Sovereignty looking set to run down the winner inside the final 100m.

He has improved with every run in his southern campaign and he looks certain to end up with his open class group one win at some stage, probably this season.

FAMILY TRIUMPH


* Springbank Richard wins the $250,000 Dominion Handicap at Addington.


* It was a victory for the Williamson family.


* The winner is now likely to head to Victoria to take on Australia's best.