Williams claims country bragging rights with Motion Legend

By Glenn Davis

Emerald trainer Raymond Williams claimed country bragging rights when former NSW sprinter Motion Legend won the Outback Racing Showcase Final at McKinlay in the state’s North West on Saturday.

Motion Legend, ridden by Williams’ apprentice Nikki Olzard, led all the way for a dominant two length win over the Bevan Johnson-trained Stampede Warrior in the 1500 metre feature, which carried prize money of $30,000.

Motion Legend started his career in Sydney with Bjorn Baker before being moved on to Brisbane trainer Jack Bruce and was having only his fourth start for Williams after being sold at an online auction.

“One of my owners, Willie Chandler, bought him at an Inglis online auction,” Williams said.

“He wasn’t a cheap buy but he’s paid his way now with two wins and a second from four starts for me.

“He had a few issues when I first got him but I’ve sorted them all out.”

Williams is hoping Motion Legend can go on to give him his second Country Cups Challenge Final in Brisbane in December after winning the 1600 metre feature with Echo Point two years ago.

Williams is also chasing his first win in the $200,000 Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm on Saturday with a two-pronged attack from Ahwahneechee and Kobe Rocks.

Williams has only been training for around eight years while working as an operator at Goonyella Riverside Mine in Moranbah in Central Queensland.

It was the first time he had travelled to McKinlay for the Outback Racing Showcase Final which also doubles as the McKinlay Cup.

“It’s a long nine-hour drive from my place at Emerald to McKinlay and it’s the first time I’ve had runners there,” Williams said.

Williams has done a remarkable job with Motion Legend after the gelding ran last in his stable debut at Barcaldine and then failed to finish at Emerald in his first two starts for the stable in May.

“He ran last at his first run at Barcaldine but he’d only been in my stable for four days,” Williams said.

“When I took him to Emerald for his second run, I put a crossover nose band on him but he stayed in the barriers and never took part.

“He then won at Thangool and ran second in a heat of the Outback Showcase at Longreach to qualify for the McKinlay Final.”

Despite the win from Motion Legend, Williams has no plans to quit his day job in the mines and is content to continue training as a hobby.

“I’m 47 now, and I’ve got no plans to quit the mines just yet,” he said.

“I’ve worked in the coal mines for 20 years, first at Gregory and now Goonyella.

“I mostly drive a grader and a bulldozer and I love the work I do.”

Williams believes the best is yet to come from his rising five-year-old Motion Legend.