Three Southern Country Cup wins for Williamson

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Southland’s leading reinsman Nathan Williamson has fashioned a very good record in the Southern Country Cups Final.

The twenty fifth edition of the race will be held on Sunday at Ascot Park as part of Diamonds Day.

His first win, albeit promoted, arrived in 2008 with the Brent Lilley trained Here Comes Soky (Soky’s Atom).

“He’d won the Wairio Cup beating Charles Bronson. He only ran second in the final. Roman Gladiator won it but was put out due to a swab. I remember connections weren’t thrilled with my drive that day. I ended up handing up the death with a round to go and got shuffled back. Then he flew home,” Williamson said.

Although Roman Gladiator won, he was later disqualified after returning a positive swab. An enquiry found that a vet had given the gelding a higher dose of treatment than was legally allowed. The vet admitted liability and his insurance company paid the winning stake to the connections of Roman Gladiator.

Williamson’s second win came with Costa De Magnifico (Mach Three) at Invercargill in 2016.

The Brent Shirley trained entire beat I’m Full Of Excuses by a length and a half with a nose back to Titan Banner.

“He was a good horse who’d won numerous Cups through that season. He was a pleasure to drive. It was a season to remember with him.”

The four year old ran the 2700 metre mobile in 3-24.2.

Pembrook Playboy (Bettor’s Delight) won for the Southland horseman in 2021.

Made $1.40 favourite, he started off thirty metres and beat Deus Ex by half a length running the 2700 metres in 3-22.7.

“He ended up getting a beautiful run that day and we were one out one back. Matty (brother Matty Williamson driving Deus Ex) skipped clear turning for home, but we managed to wear him down in the straight. He was probably the class horse in the field and those were the days when he was 100%. He was impressive.”