KEY POINTS:
If you told Nathan Williamson a year ago he would be where he is now he would have laughed at you.
"And I think a lot of other people would have laughed too," he admits.
But so rapid has been the rise of the hottest young driver in New Zealand harness racing that nothing fazes him now. Not even the prospect of making his Alexandra Park debut tonight.
The 19-year-old from Oamaru started the new season hoping to establish himself among the top junior drivers in the country, maybe even win a decent race.
He might have over-achieved just a little.
Williamson, the son of trotting trainer supreme Phil, won the group one New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All and Ordeal Cup on Jasmyn's Gift and reined Springbank Richard to a spectacular win in the $100,000 Harness Jewels.
They were just three of the 51 wins which saw him go into last night's Forbury Park meeting sharing the junior driver's premiership lead with Gavin Smith.
Which brings Williamson to Alexandra Park tonight to chase the title of our best young driver.
"I am serious about trying to win it and if that means coming up here for the next six weeks then I'll do it," says Williamson. "I have had a lot of trainers down home support me in the last few months and I owe it to them and myself to have a crack at it.
"The junior's title has been won by some great drivers and it would be something special to add my name to that list."
Williamson shares a major attribute with the previous young guns such as Tony Herlihy and Mark Jones who have won the title - patience.
While rival Smith is noted for his aggression, Williamson has learned his trade on trotters, giving him softer hands and a cool streak.
He has six drives tonight, most of whom have winning chances, and will not be overawed by his first Alexandra Park experience.
"It is exciting. It will be different, with new horses and some drivers I haven't raced against before but I watch the northern meetings and have been studying the form."
Williamson will partner Arid in the junior driver's event at tonight's lower-grade meeting and the speedster has a good chance after trialling well at Cambridge last Saturday.
A former exciting juvenile, Arid has been plagued by illness at times this season but could win tonight if he races up to his best form.
"He looks a good drive and, to be honest, so do most of them. I have been lucky because Phil Barber [well-known northern form analyst] had helped me get drives and he really knows the form."
While Williamson has had an unbelievable season, Smith must still be favourite for the title as he works for leading trainers Catherine and David Butt, who have a larger winter racing team than any stable Williamson drives for. "I see Gavin has some handy drives at Addington [tonight] so it should be an interesting week."
While Jasmyn's Gift has been retired Williamson is still the regular driver of Springbank Richard, who recorded a stunning performance to win his section of the Harness Jewels.
The 3-year-old has spent most of this week in Auckland on his way to Melbourne where he is likely to kick off a campaign in the Holmfield at Moonee Valley next Friday.
"Dad will drive him if he starts in that but later in the campaign I will probably go over to drive him in a heat and then hopefully the final of the Victoria Trotters Derby."
