Williamson looking to charge on Southern Surge Finals Day
Matt Markham - Raceform • August 23rd, 2025 10:00 AM • 4 min read
Trekking long distances for big race meetings has become the norm for Nathan Williamson these days, so the chance to tackle something unique and financially lucrative a little closer to home this weekend has Southland’s leading horseman excited.
Williamson will line up six runners from his Branxholme stables on the inaugural running of Southern Surge Finals Day at Gore on Sunday, culminating a winter of racing rarely seen in the depths of the South Island for many years – one Williamson, and everyone south of the Waitaki River in North Otago, has welcomed.
“It’s been a great initiative and Sunday will be like a Cup Day of sorts for us down here,” Williamson told RaceForm.
“It has meant we’ve needed to adjust a few things with the way we train leading up to and into winter, as usually most horses would be in the paddock, but it’s been great to keep the racing going and have something to work towards.
“I’m feeling pretty lucky to have qualified five for the Southern Surge Finals and hopefully we can have a good day with a nice team of horses.”
The only non-Southern Surge runner to step out for his barn is Indulge Me, a royally bred two-year-old filly who lines up in what looks to be a deep juvenile race.
“I’ve only had her for about three weeks, she’s been with John and Katrina (Price) and has only just come to me, but I like her, she’s certainly got a bit of the family ability.”
A Downbytheseaside filly, Indulge Me is the second foal from Sweet On Me, a two-time Group One winner and daughter of champion mare Adore Me.
“There’s a bit still to learn, but we want to travel with her, so it’s a good stepping stone. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t far away, though.”
Sunday’s meeting will be met with a little hint of sadness for Williamson, with unbeaten three-year-old filly She’s Crunchy having her last start for the stable before heading to Australia.
She was bred and originally raced by Williamson’s wife Katie, but will head to her new owners, who are making the trip over this week, post Sunday’s $25,000 final after winning at Addington on debut before a tough win at Invercargill last time out.
“She’s been a filly we’ve always had a bit of time for, but she’s overcome some tricky draws in both her starts to win and really stepped up on race day.
“Finally she gets a good draw to work with this week and I’m keen to use it too. Craig Ferguson’s horse Saucy Delight has been going well and is drawn next to us, but I’d be keen to make it do some work outside of us this week.
“I think she’s my best chance of the day from the good draw.”
She’s Crunchy is one of three last-start winners to race for Williamson on Sunday, with promising trotting mare Clotilde Wainwright and Always Dreaming also chasing back-to-back wins.
The former will have to contend with a couple of smart ones from Williamson’s father Phil’s Oamaru barn in Tarragindi and Have A Little Faith, along with the enigmatic To The Moon And Back from brother Brad’s barn, but without doubt has the talent.
“She’s a nice wee horse, but I do worry a little bit about the 2200 metres around Gore with her. That said, if she did everything right, she’s shown how capable she is and a big run wouldn’t surprise.”
Always Dreaming resumed in fine style with a determined win a fortnight ago and has trained on really well since, which Williamson expected.
“He’s come through that run great and, like I thought he would, he has improved off it.
“He didn’t have too long of a spell, so came back to it really quickly and I think that’s helped him. It’s only a smallish field this week and they can be tricky, especially around Gore, but he’s a wee professional who can do it a number of ways, so he should be right in the hunt.”
The very talented Black Pat will pose an interesting dilemma for punters in another of the trotting finals.
Only new to Williamson’s barn after originally being trained by Phil, the four-year-old mare has the ability to win, but needs to do everything right after a last-start gallop. A small gear change is hopefully going to help.
“She was playing up quite badly last time and just never felt like getting it right. I’ve taken the blinds off her this week. If she can step away as quickly as I know she can, she’d be a chance.
“Stepping and running at Gore over the 2200 metres looks ideal for her, but she’s got to get it right.”
Rise Up N Dance is the final of Williamson’s chances, and as the first runner for the day for his barn, he knows his performance could well set the tone for the day.
“I’ve got no doubt that at his best, he’d win for fun,” Williamson said matter-of-factly. “But, as he’s shown, he’s not quite there mentally yet and can find a way to get himself beaten.
“At home, he works like a pretty good horse who should win a few races pretty easily, but it hasn’t quite translated out onto the track yet.
“Hopefully it comes this week, because we’ve got a front-line draw in a field that looks like he should be able to take care of.”
As well as his training responsibilities, Williamson will also be busy in the cart with a number of outside drives on the day, including leading chances with the talented maiden trotter Hobbs for Bruce Wallace, Party Up Denario for Brett Gray in the maiden final, and an in-form Foxing Easton later in the day, also from the Gray barn.
