Kiwi ready for more Menangle horsepower

7 February 2023

BUOYED by the thrill of his first-ever winner at Tabcorp Park Menangle, leading New Zealand reinsman Tim Williams will be looking to make it two when he heads back to that track today.

Williams will handle the well-bred filly Kahlua Flybye in Race 7 today for ace Kiwi trainer Stephen Telfer, before he heads back to the Shaky Isles before returning four the Carnival of Miracles in a couple of weeks’ time.

The filly, by boom sire Bettors Delight, has four wins from just 11 starts in New Zealand and has been installed a $1.65 favourite, the shortest price on the eight-race program today.

Williams combined with one of Telfer’s stable stars B D Joe on Saturday night for a stirring half-head victory over Reactor Now and Jay OK in a slick 1:50.6 mile rate.

B D Joe has been sent here nice and early to get used to the Menangle style of racing as the son of Roll With Joe prepares for a crack at the Miracle Mile next month.

He already shapes as one of the serious contenders as he held off a quality field on Saturday night to prove he wasn’t here just to make up the numbers.

“Nice to bring some horsepower here with us and obviously we were very pleased with the way he went,” said Williams.

“It took him a bit to relax but going down the back straight the final time it really felt like we were  moving.

“Full credit to his rivals, they all put it to us but it was a great struggle up the straight to hold them off and I’d like to think he’ll take some improvement from that run, as will his stablemate Alta Wiseguy.”

Williams spent eight years as a stable driver for Mark Purdon’s All Stars team in New Zealand handling such champions as Lazarus and Spankem numerous times in feature races.

He is keen on the prospects of Kahlua Flybye at Menangle today:

“She’s a lovely filly and she rarely runs a bad race,” he told National Trotguide on-line’s Mike Ko’cass.

“She’s had a wee break and come back well and we’ve been really pleased with her.

“Today is a nice starting point for her and she gets the chance to have a nice look at the track.

“Obviously, we’re here to chase the NSW Oaks with her and we’re hoping this should tidy her up nicely for that race.”