Muscle Mist wins for mother and son

Bruce Stewart Journalist

While most were expecting To The Moon And Back to win the first race at Ascot Park today it was first starter and stablemate Muscle Mist (Muscle Mass) that came away with a convincing win.

“She’s been trialling up well lately. Dad (Phil) drove her for me at Ashburton last week and he was happy with the way she felt so we decided to start racing her,” trainer Brad Williamson said after he drove the mare to win by three quarters of a length.

The four year old mare did it sitting parked to boot.

“She’s a big green girl so being there helped to keep her mind on the job. She a very laid back horse and I was happy enough just to sit there. She actually won quite easily and I never turned the stick around so she won with a fair bit in hand.”

Muscle Mist winning for Brad Williamson at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Prior to today’s debut Muscle Mist had been to three trials.

“She’s so big and overgrown and even using Dad’s big cart today she was touching the wheels a bit. She was very sensible and has probably had more practice than most first starters. She does a lot of pace work with a lot of our young horses at home and over the last twelve months she’s got to be a very solid trotter.”

Williamson’s other runner To The Moon And Back finished second, but was relegated after galloping heading out of the first bend.

“It looked to me that he threw his head at the grit going into the first bend so we’ll add a nose flap to his gear and probably put him on the unruly for a couple of starts to try and get him around safely. He looks a pretty progressive horse and he’s got a good motor so I’m excited to see what he can do over the next month or so.”

The win was one of two for owner Bev Williamson who was in the winner’s circle later in the programme when Aroha Kenny won the first heat of the Silk Road Trotting Series for another son, Nathan.

Muscle Mist is out of six win Sundon mare Dwindle Mist whose first two foals Dwindle Star and Harry Stamper were good winners. Harry Stamper has won thirteen - primarily in Australia including the Group One NSW Derby and Group One Breeders Crown for three year old trotting colts and geldings.

Muscle Mist is Dwindle Mist’s third foal.

“She’s been on the farm all her life but she’s taken a while to mature because she’s a big giant of a girl. So we’ve just waited for her to come to it.”