Sea change brings Williams new success

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Raymond Williams celebrated his first winner from his new Bundaberg training base at Gladstone on Saturday and is hoping for more joy when he returns to his former hometown at Emerald on Tuesday.

Williams trained for many years at Emerald, but decided on a sea change and bought an 88-acre property just outside Bundaberg, where he now prepares a team of 13.

His first winner from his new stable came with Elronte, who won a Class 2 Handicap at Gladstone at the weekend.

“I bought an old avocado farm which is close to the beach and it still has about 200 avo trees on it,” Williams said.

“It’s also an old spelling complex with its own training track, so I can train here or go to the beach or use the Bundaberg track about 40 minutes away.

“I spent a lot of years in Emerald, but I wanted a sea change and looked everywhere for a place before I finally found this place.”

Williams is returning to Emerald, where he once worked as the track curator, mainly to clinch the club’s Horse of the Year honours with Mississippi Morn, who will resume in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

“I think he’s a big chance of winning Emerald’s Horse of the Year as he’s won quite a few races there,” the 50-year-old Williams said.

“If he can win this, then he’ll just about secure it.

“But, it’s a very tough race and a lot stronger than I thought it would be.”

Mississippi Morn was a cheap buy from Sunshine Coast trainer Belinda Mair and has won eight of his 16 starts, including his last four in a row.

The five-year-old will be ridden by Gabrielle Semmens in his first start since winning a 1000 metre Open Handicap at Emerald on April 4.

“He’s been in work around 13 weeks and he’s coming along well,” Williams said.

“It’s a hard race with Sunnycoast in it and Sailor’s Rum from Alisha Taylor’s stable. But, I think he’ll take a lot of beating.”

Williams, who once worked in the coal mines in Central Queensland for 20 or so years, hopes to book a spot in the Country Stampede Final at Doomben in November with Mississippi Morn.

“I’ve got four or five horses which I hope to aim for the Country Stampede and the Country Cups Challenge Finals,” Williams said.

“I’m confident Mississippi Morn will get 1200 metres, so the Stampede Final over 1100 metres should be ideal for him.”

Williams won the Country Cups Challenge Final with Echo Point in 2022, while he also won the Country Stampede in 2024 with Lily Allez.