Captians Mistress and Nathan Williamson
THE man who “made” Captains Mistress is lucky to be alive to see her try and create history tomorrow night’s $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle.
When Nathan Williamson drove Captains Mistress for the last time at Auckland’s Alexandra Park on December 12, his sulky seat broke, catapulted him into the track and left him in an induced coma with nasty head injuries.
Everyone watching trackside and on TV were horrified.
His wife Katie and parents, Phil and Bev, were summoned to Auckland Hospital’s ICU to prepare for some “hard decisions.”
“They put me into an induced coma for three days and were so worried about the swelling on the brain, they talked about cutting my skull open and what the long term impacts would be,” Williamson said.
“That’s where my luck changed. I say to everyone that I was incredibly unlucky to have a freak accident like that, but even luckier to be where I am now after the fears the doctors had.”
It will be three months since the accident when Williamson meets his specialist again next Thursday.
“It’s just been the most amazing recovery. This check-in is to get the final tick-off to start driving and car again and to be able to drive (horses) in races again, too,” he said.
“I’m just incredibly lucky it's healed so well and I’ve got to this stage from where I was and how serious it seemed.
“Head injuries can go either way, so to have a serious injury like I did and be here now is almost miraculous. I’ve had no headaches and no complications.”
Williamson can’t remember the fall, just waking up three days later wondering why he was in hospital with tubes down his throat.
“I can remember hitting the front (in the race) and thinking I was about to win another Group 1 (Queen of Hearts) with her (Captains Mistress) and then nothing,” he said.
Captains Mistress was set for victory when the sulky seat malfunctioned just 50m from the winning post.
With Williamson sidelined and with the blessing of his family, Captains Mistress’ leviathan Australian owner Mick Boots decided to transfer her to Menangle trainer Jason Grimson.
Williamson said watching Captains Mistress thrive and “go to a whole new level” in Australia has been a tonic during his recovery.
“Mick (Boots) lives in Aussie and has been a huge supporter of our stable and there’s certainly no mixed emotions with her going across,” he said.
“She has freakish speed from day one and is the most talented horse I’ve trained. She won two Group 1’s and it would be three except for the accident.
“But credit to Jason and how quickly he’s taken her so far. You get close to them, especially horses as good as her, so it’s given me a huge kick staying up late over here (NZ) to watch her recent wins.”
Captains Mistress is unbeaten in six starts, including two Group 1’s, for Grimson and last Saturday night’s effortless Chariots Of Fire win booked her a spot in the Miracle Mile.
She is trying to become the first four-year-old mare to win a Miracle Mile since the race started in 1967.
“I could see her going places, but maybe not this quickly. She’s gone ahead in leaps and bounds for Jason.
“Don’t worry, I’d still get a heck of a thrill from her winning and doing it again in a Miracle Mile, against one of the best fields we’ve seen for so long, would be incredible.
“I’ll be the one cheering loudest in the middle of the night over here (NZ) if she wins.”
Punters think she’s a great chance at $3.40, second favourite be the all-time great and previous winner Leap To Fame ($2.30).
PHOTO: Courtesy HRNZ/Race Images
