Trainer Ben Williams' family tragedy

By Glenn Davis

It has been a deeply emotional week for Townsville trainer Ben Williams who is hopeful of landing a double at Bowen on Thursday.

Williams’ brother, Mike Harding, died in a helicopter crash, 80 kilometres south of Mataranka in the Northern Territory, last week.

A large search team located a crash site on Saturday, two days after his helicopter failed to arrive at its destination.

Harding and his family have managed the nearby Gorrie Station since 1988.

Williams will saddle up two starters at Bowen with Kiss Me Later in the Open Handicap and Our Addiction in the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Kiss Me Later’s bid to complete a hat-trick of wins has been dealt a blow after drawing the outside barrier.

“This is only his second open company start and he did well to win his first at Home Hill last start,” Williams said.

The seven-year-old is chasing his 10th win of his career at his 50th start which includes wins at his past two starts at Townsville and Home Hill.

The son of Bel Esprit was ridden by Rockhampton heavyweight hoop Ashley Butler in his Townsville victory while Adrian Layt was aboard his latest Home Hill victory in a 1000 metre Open Handicap.

Kiss Me Later steps up in journey to 1200 metres, a trip he’s been successful over once in 10 attempts.

“He’s back down in the weights as that’s why Adrian (Layt) is riding him this time and not Graham Kliese, who rides him work,” Williams said.

“Hopefully he can win again as it’s getting hot up this way now and he’ll go for a spell shortly.”

Williams has scaled back on his numbers and now has a small team of six in work at Townsville for the summer months.

Williams has a good opinion of Our Addiction who is coming off a last start win over 800 metres at Pentland last month.

“He’s a good horse who can gallop,” Williams said.

“I took him to Pentland last start and put the shades on him and he broke the track record by two seconds.”