Up-and-coming trainer Holly Williams has made an immediate impact in the Hunter-North West, training four winners from just her first 19 starters.
Hitting the grounding running, the 40-year-old won with her first starter in August, with Gold Lover taking out the 900m Maiden Plate at Scone.
Since then, Gold Lover’s won again at Tamworth, triumphing in a 1000m Class One Handicap at Tamworth in October.
The Tamworth trainer has undoubtedly made her mark by boasting two more victories in December, with Island Legend winning at Gosford and Enterprise Legend boulting in at Quirindi.
Williams touched on her first winner, explaining how it came about and what it meant to her and the stable.
“It was so good,” Williams told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“With Gold Lover, we bought her for $6000 unbroken off Inglis Digital, and she hadn’t had much handling, so we broke her in and put her in the paddock.
“She was a bit wild, and while the licencing process was going on, I gave her to Terry Croft in Hawkesbury, and she did her first two preps with Crofty.
“He sent her to the trials, and on debut, she ran second and got beat by a Godolphin horse (Stanislaus), and ran second again, and we tried out luck in the Wellington Boot, but couldn’t win there, and we sent her to the paddock.
“She came back into work with Crofty, and then I got my licence, and I had her for about six weeks before I found the right race for her at Scone, and she did the job for me, and it was an unforgettable day.”
As a two-time winner, Gold Lover was tested in Highway company at Royal Randwick in November, finishing seventh when beaten five lengths by Emperor.
Since then, she’s had a little spell and will resume following a 12-week let-up at Tamworth on Friday, with Grant Buckley taking the ride in the 1000m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
“After she had the spell, she has come back in and is so much bigger and stronger,” Williams said.
“She is a filly with a bit of attitude, which I believe they have to have if they are any good, and we will see how she goes tomorrow.
“She has had a bit of an interrupted prep, and ideally, I would have liked to trial her again; I scratched her from one because it was too hot, and then Armidale was washed out, so she’s only got the one trial under her belt.
“Still, she is as good as she can be, and while she might need the run, I think she will run a good race.”
Born and bred in Coolah, Williams is the epitome of a horsewoman, spending the first decade of her career in Show Jumping, where she groomed horses for the Olympics and World Championships.
“I left school and went to Queensland and just worked as a groom for a Show Jumping stable, and it turned out I was with Peter and Michelle McMahon at Kolora lodge, which is this pre-training and breaking place,” Williams said.
“I spent ten years there and was lucky enough to go overseas and attend the World Championships in Germany, the Beijing Olympics, and big events in New Zealand, and I travelled all over the world with these guys.”
An itch to test out the racing industry had to be scratched, and Williams soon found herself working with different racing stables before being foreperson for the Peter and Paul Snowden yard.
“I left Queensland and went to Melbourne and worked for Peter Moody for 12 months and Mick Price for 12 months, and after that, I was with Tony Gollan for four years,” Williams said.
“After I left Tony’s place, I was the foreman for Peter and Paul Snowden and spent two years there before I got my licence.”
Williams believes her background in Show Jumping and work experience in the racing industry gives her a unique outlook on training and how to prepare gallopers.
“Working with Show Jumpers gave me a good grounding on how to look after them and horses in general,” Williams said.
“I think it’s given me more of an open mind, and a lot of people that have only ever been in the racing industry believe there are only certain ways to do things and not do things.
“For me, I’m probably thinking a bit differently, and we’ll see how it all goes.”
Williams has a good set-up in Tamworth and is looking to grow her team, but not too big or too fast.
“I’ve got a team of five and six at one time, and I’d like to move forward and get a few more, and ten would suit me better because it is a manageable number with a couple of staff members and me,” Williams said.
“We might get bigger if we decide to grow a few more, but it’s so hard to get staff, and we’re happy with how things are at the moment.”
When asked why she set up shop at Tamworth, multiple factors came into play.
“I really like the place, and everything is here,” Williams said.
“Plus, it is close to where I’m from, and mum is still there, and it is the closest I’ve lived to my family for quite a few years.
“Also, the track is great, Jack Penfold does a great job, and the community of trainers have been nothing but helpful and supportive.”
In terms of her training, Williams said that utilising day yards in a country setting means she can look at improving horses that might not have enjoyed stable life in metropolitan stables.
“I’ve just got the six (stables) at the moment and seven paddocks, and it’s the best of both worlds,” Williams said.
“They come in of a night and get up of a morning and go to the track and get worked, and then they are in the paddock all day.
“They aren’t locked in a stable all day, and they can move about and just be a horse.
“It does wonders for them mentally, and I believe it is why many horses can go from city grade to country and hit their straps.
“It’s not so intense, and while some horses thrive in the city, a lot need a bit of space.”
Williams has good support behind her, enjoying success with tried horses while new owners are jumping on board.
“Getting them online, and with what we do in the country, if you are doing your homework well enough, there are always good ones there to buy,” Williams said.
“It’s been good to get the wins with Gold Lover, Island Legend, and Enterprise Legend, and it all started with getting a couple of online horses.
“I lined up a few owners, and they have stuck with me, and we are slowly building up a good base.
“Now, I’ve got another one there called Great Siege that was previously trained by Anthony Cummings, and he’ll trial early next month; Duncan Ramage sent him to me.
“Another one called Quiet Riot, owned solely by a lady in Melbourne, was sent to me, and that came about due to word of mouth with my other owner.”
While the sky is the limit for Williams, who’s enjoying her foray into racing, the stable’s focus will be the next few days.
With Gold Love engaged at Tamworth, Williams also has Enterprise Legend in at Dubbo on Sunday.
Currently, the fourth emergency in the 1100m Benchmark 58 Handicap Barastoc Summer Sprint Series heat, Chelsea Ings has been named, and Williams hopes he can gain a start.
