NZ Tonight: Plenty of play left in Pembrook

One wild spin around the paddock led to one phone call that has led to one more race for Pembrook Playboy at Alexandra Park tonight.

 The most exciting horse in Southland could easily have been home by now, resting at the end of a season that has seen him win seven races and claim the scalps of New Zealand Cup winners Self Assured and Thefixer.

Trainer Nathan Williamson was adamant that rest period adamant that would be next step heading to the IRT Harness Jewels at Cambridge 12 days ago, where the class act could manage only 8th in the four-year-old boys final.

 “I went into the Jewels thinking he was on his last legs for the season,” says Williamson.

 “And then I had a slight issue when he didn’t travel up to Cambridge all that well. Nothing serious he was just a bit dull and he raced that way.”

Williamson took Pembrook Playboy back to the stables of Andrew and Lyn Neal where his team was staying and was certain the season was done.

“But when I let him go in the paddock he was still full of himself, which really surprised me,” he explains.

Knowing tonight’s $40,000 Uncut Gems races were still available to horses who hadn’t placed at the Jewels nor won a race worth more than $55,000, Williamson had a think then made a phone call to cancel Pembrook Playboy’s transporter home.

“I had a hunch and when I worked him a few days later it made me think I was right, he was far better than he has been heading to Jewels Day.

“I think what happened was he didn’t travel well and so I eased up on him and then they have gone 1:51.6 for the mile at the Jewels and he just wasn’t ready. He wasn’t fit enough.

“But he has turned the corner, with both the run under his belt and feeling better and his work this week has been exceptional.”

Pembrook Playboy will need to be close to his peak to win tonight’s Uncut Gems male pace in which he has drawn the outside of the second line on what will be his Alexandra Park debut.

“I am not saying it will be easy but it looks like a front line where they could go hard and that might pan out well for us.

“If they do that will suit him and he will be hard to beat.”

The field has genuine depth though with Dance Time in career best form, Fabrizio talented albeit annoying for punters and Steel The Show and the returning Double Rocket proven at group race level.

While Pembrook Playboy’s work since the Jewels has boosted Williamson’s confidence ahead of tonight, a slight setback to a stablemate may have increased the southern horseman’s chance of driving the winner of the $40,000 Uncut Gems Trot.

Williamson was forced to scratch Kiwtrix because of a setback, which means he can drive Credit Master, trained by the Neals, in the standing start 2700m.

“I drove him when he won last start and he has to be hard to beat this week, although Midnight Dash looks a logical danger.”

The latter has to be hard to beat because he was fourth in the red hot Jewels four-year-old trot and is already established in open class, has good manners and previous Alexandra Park experience.

Williamson also rates his upset chances in the $40,000 mares race tonight even though Pearl Harbour (R6, No.11) was disappointing to the eye after trailing in her division of the Jewels.

 “She might have trailed but she had to work hard to hold the lead before that and that isn’t her go,” he explains.

 “If she can get the right suck into the race this week you might see a different horse.”

That last Gem has a real South Island feel to it with Folklore having been superb in her two runs in the north, Tres Chic an Alexandra Park newcomer with outstanding form at her best and Cheezel up to most of her northern rivals.