After a spell in Auckland Hospital, Williamson has returned home and is making good progress in his recovery.
“Over the last few weeks it has become clear how serious the accident was. I’m lucky to be here so I just have to make sure I do things right to get back on track. I find myself losing energy and struggling to get through a day without rest. Other than that I feel normal,” he said.
At this time, Williamson cannot ride or harness horses.
“I can’t afford to get hit on the head. Nine times out of 10 when you work with horses you’re not going to do that, but I can’t risk it.”
Williamson says he finds it difficult having to train his horses from the sidelines and not being able to ride them.
“I’m still working on that and it’s been very difficult. In our industry a lot of it is done by feel, so it’s hard to sit there and watch. When you work with horses you can tell if they need more or less training. I’m lucky to have such good employees who give me good feedback, which has made the process a little easier, but it’s still difficult.”
Williamson has watched the video of the accident and recently viewed footage taken by Queen Of Hearts sponsor Woodlands Stud from the birdcage about 20 yards away.
“It’s a bit of a tough watch, but what I’m saying is I wasn’t afraid to watch it.”
Williamson is very grateful to the entire crash crew and ambulance crew who assisted on the night, and to members of the running community.
“Special thanks go to Luke Edmonds who was part of the crash team who helped me immensely, along with Scotty Phelan who jumped the fence and assisted. Danny Blackmore was instrumental in keeping me quiet and making sure I didn’t do anything too crazy. Luk Chin (a doctor and trainer and rider in running races) came out and did an assessment. I can’t thank them all enough.”
Williamson used a borrowed cart with which he had won the final of the Group One New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies with Captains Mistress at Alexandra Park in May last year.
“It was a short cart. She’s such a clean-gaited filly that doesn’t wave her hind legs much. I adjusted the seat and as far as I can remember I didn’t feel anything unpleasant. We warmed up, we were in the race and I didn’t feel anything unpleasant. It was just one of those accidents.”
He says he can remember everything up until the accident.
Since then, Captains Mistress has moved to Australia, where she is under the care of Jason Grimson. She has won both her starts in her new stable and Williamson is very proud of his part in the filly’s development.
“She was my first Group 1 winner. She has been the perfect horse from day one. I am impressed with how she is doing. She is proving how good she can be and there may be more to come.”
The four-year-old mare was touted as a contender for the $100,000 Group One Chariots Of Fire in Menangle in early March.
“You are proud that you have raised a horse that has been the best filly at two and three years old, but she is ready to prove herself as an open mare.”
So when will Williamson return?
“I won’t come back until I’m ready and the professionals say I’m ready. I’ve had a number of check-ups that have been very positive.”
By the end of next month he hopes to have a clearer idea of when he can start racing again.
Despite losing the services of star filly Captains Mistress, Williamson has a number of good three-year-olds in her stable who are being prepared for some big assignments in the coming months.
“Palladium and Simply Amazing will be aimed at Southern Supremacy. Indulge Me and Treacherous Me are potential Southern Oaks mares. We really like both fillies and there is potential that they could both go to Auckland, but we will see how they train.”
Class trotting filly Duchess Maria is also back in the stable after a foot abscess halted her two-year campaign.
“It was a deep-seated abscess. It was a real pain in the ass and bad timing for her. Both her and Indulge Me have bounced back from John and Katrina Price looks great.”
Duchess Maria’s targets include the $100,000 G1 Northern Trotting Derby, the G1 $120,000 Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Trotters Championship and the G3 Northern Trotting Oaks, all at Alexandra Park in May.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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