Danny Williams had four starters in the Sera 1400-metre Country Championships qualifier on Saturday, but in the end all he needed was one piece of Pumpkin Pie.
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The three-year-old chestnut mare strode home ahead of Steel Frost to take the race. Both horses will contest the Randwick final in April.
June Baker represented the owners of Pumpkin Pie, “a very happy syndicate”. “This is certainly the highlight of my racing life … to do it on home turf is really special,” Ms Baker said.
“I’d like to thank my trainer Danny Williams for a huge effort with this horse, getting it ready; and a terrific ride by Jay [Ford]: absolutely first-class.”
Trainer Danny Williams was lauded as “a credit to Goulburn”. He thanked the owners for selecting the mare originally, when “she didn’t look the best. She’s a much better horse than I would have given her credit for.”
Williams also thanked the Goulburn and District Racing Club and Racing NSW for the event. “For country trainers like myself, it’s a great opportunity and privilege. I am absolutely ecstatic,” he said.
“I’ve been on eggshells for weeks. I’ve chewed my fingernails off and almost my toenails … [but] everything has gone so well.”
Jockey Jay Ford called the Country Championships “a great initiative and one that continues to thrive. It presents a horse like this today that has a promising future and is on an upwards spiral and will continue to go well.”
If either Pumpkin Pie or Steel Frost wins the Randwick final in April, the Post will donate $5000 of NSW Tabcorp takings to be shared by the Goulburn units of the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service.