Waimate owner-breeder Lex Williams might be battered and bruised right now, but race-horses are providing him with a much-needed pick-me-up.
Lindsay Castleton’s maiden victory at Oamaru yesterday followed up on good recent form from One Over Da Moon, giving Williams something to smile about after his fall from scaffolding two weeks ago.
“He tried to save himself, but the drainpipe he held on to broke, so he fell headfirst and landed on his head and cracked a vertebra in his neck,” wife Heather Williams said yesterday.
The couple’s son, Brad, and his wife were with Lex Williams yesterday, giving Heather a chance to pop half-an-hour down the road to Oamaru Racecourse.
The trip was well worth it, too, as the Brent White-trained 5yr-old took over with a lap to go and bolted away to win by 6 lengths, with the earplugs still firmly lodged in the ears.
Lindsay Castleton, named after Lex’s cousin, is another winner out of Anna Castleton for the family.
“That mare has done well for us,” Heather Williams said.
“We’ve got [3yr-old] Troy Castleton which Brent has got as well, then we’ve got a lovely colt out of Anna Castleton by One Over Da Moon.”
Lindsay Castleton still looked green during the running, and considering driver Stephen McNally never had to activate the earplugs, the c1 grade should hold few fears.
“He’s got plenty more to come — he just had to get strong and we just had to wait for him.”
Lex Williams returned home late last week after 11 days in Dunedin Hospital, where he had an operation to put a screw in his neck, so he had a long recovery ahead of him, Heather Williams said.
by Matt Smith