Bundaberg move gives Williams a timely boost

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Raymond Williams believes his recent move to Bundaberg has been a blessing ahead of his bid to book tickets for the Country Stampede and Country Cups Challenge Finals at Doomben in December.

Williams accepted with Mississippi Morn and Betta Than Presley in the Country Stampede qualifier over 1050 metres at Rockhampton on Saturday after the original meeting scheduled for Yeppoon was transferred to Callaghan Park.

He also accepted with June and Entrepreneurial in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier over 1400 metres.

“I’ve accepted with Mississippi Morn and Betta Than Presley at 'Rocky' and I’m hoping to go there, but they’re also in at Kumbia on Tuesday, so it may depend on what they draw at Kumbia,” Williams said.

“My preference is for 'Rocky' while June is likely to be my only runner there in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier.”

Williams, who once worked in the coal mines in Central Queensland for around 20 years, won the Country Cups Challenge Final in 2022 with Echo Point.

He also claimed the 2024 Country Stampede Final at Doomben with Lily Allez.

“I’ve won two of the big country features in Brisbane, but I’m yet to win the Battle of the Bush,” he said.

He moved to Bundaberg about a month ago and believes it’s the ideal place for him to train after a long stint at Emerald.

“The move to Bundaberg has been tremendous as I can easily take horses to Caloundra or go back out west to Emerald," the trainer said. 

“I had three runners at Caloundra recently and one, Lunar Eight, only just got beaten.”

Williams is confident of another strong performance from Mississippi Morn, who is chasing his seventh win in succession.

“It’s a bit hard to be sad about his form,” Williams joked.

“He’s won six straight and 10 from 18 starts since I bought him.”

Mississippi Morn is coming off a dominant victory over the Glenda Bell-trained Invictus Lad in the Emerald Lightning on October 10.

“He’s not invincible as Invictus Lad almost got him at Emerald,” Williams said.

“But, his win in the Emerald Lightning was very good and if he wins at 'Rocky', he’ll definitely go to Brisbane for the Country Stampede Final.”

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

His four-year-old mare Elronte gave him his first win from his new Bundaberg stable when she saluted in a Class 2 Handicap at Gladstone last month.