Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
Trainer Toby Williams had a week that will stick with him for years to come, capped off on Saturday night when recording his first ever Albion Park training success.
With just one horse to devote his attention to, Williams was able to produce that horse - Camroller - to win at Redcliffe on Monday evening and back it up at Albion Park with a Saturday night victory.
Deciding to adopt differing tactics with the veteran nine-year-old on Monday at The Triangle, the daring move paid dividends when the gelding was able to claim a dominant victory in sharp time after working in the run.
“The last few starts, he just wasn’t getting a run into the race and was always left chasing the field,” Williams said.
“So, we decided we would see if we could get to the front or at least get forward and see how he goes.”
After having an early shot, Camroller could not get to the front, but driver Trent Moffat was then content to sit outside the leader, where a genuine tempo saw the first half run in 60.2 seconds.
Applying more pressure through the three-quarter pole, the third split appeared in 28 seconds flat as Camroller forged to the lead and Moffat tried to pinch the advantage.
Turning for home with a decisive lead, Camroller was fighting hard with Restrepo charging out of the pack attempting to reel in the leader, only to come up short as Camroller held on for the narrowest of victories in a mile-rate of 1.56.2.
It was the second win this season for the pacer that Williams also owns, with the rookie trainer doing a wonderful job to get the veteran back to the track.
“It has been a long time coming, it has taken plenty of work to get him back to the track and a real thrill to see him in winning form,” Williams said.
“He tore a rear suspensory last year, that is why he had almost 12 months off and yeah, it has been a long time coming, it has taken a lot of effort."
After the strength of Monday’s victory, Camroller then looked extremely well placed on Saturday night from gate one in the Garrards Horse and Hound Qualifying B Pace.
With regular pilot Trent Moffat committed to his own runner Headwin, Leonard Cain was able to jump in the bike behind Camroller and take the reins for the first time behind the nine-year-old.
“We have been long time family friends with the Cain’s, so it was an easy choice to give the drive to Leonard with Trent unavailable,” Williams said.
Over the 2138 metre journey, Cain opted to take the trail from gate one behind Speak With Sam who was able to dictate a 60.5 second opening half before increasing the tempo to 28.9 seconds down the back straight.
Turning for home it looked a two-horse battle and with the option to pull the left or right rein, Cain opted for the right as Camroller moved to the outside and had the closing speed to record a 2.8 metre victory.
The way the race eventuated, Camroller looked a big danger and was always travelling well throughout the race with Williams almost needing to cap his enthusiasm before the race was completed.
“I was cheering with a lap to travel as I knew how good a run he was getting," he said.
With the perfect week on the track, off the track it was as momentous for Williams, with a major personal milestone sandwiched between Camroller’s success.
“It sure was a big week, I finished university on Friday, it has taken me five years to get through to be a high school teacher,” Williams said.
The success will look to continue this Friday night, with Camroller likely to chase a winning hat-trick.
THE BAD
The wet weather across the weekend took a casualty at Marburg on Sunday, with the club forced with no alternative but to abandon their race meeting.
With huge amounts of volunteer hours invested by the club for their annual Octoberfest meeting, the huge deluge Saturday and Sunday morning saw the stabling area experiencing major issues.
The highlight of the meeting on track was the scheduled Graham Harriott Memorial Trot, with the club now working with Racing Queensland to source a suitable date to run the feature.
Harriott was a long-time committeeman and former president of the Marburg Pacing Association and also a deft hand in training square-gaiters.
After his death in 2012, the Harriott family and club have honoured his passion and commitment to the industry each year with the Graham Harriott Memorial Trotters handicap.
The race will not be lost, finding the replacement date and building a big day around the feature now faces the loyal team from Marburg.
THE WILDCARD
Once again Queensland trained horses performed strongly over the weekend on interstate tracks, chasing feature race appearances in the coming weeks.
Recently crowned Victorian Derby winner Leap To Fame secured entry to the New South Wales Breeders Challenge Final for the three-year-old colts and geldings after scoring a tough win at Menangle.
Sitting parked for much of the event, the star colt did enough to take victory by a narrow margin and record a new personal best winning time of 1.50.7 for the flying mile.
Teddy Disco also progressed to the Final after going perilously close to taking the first semi-final, collared in the shadows of the post by Mahomes.
Hy Voltage for trainer Graham Dwyer set up the speed in his heat of the four-year-old entires and geldings, holding on for second placing after giving plenty of cheek out in front.
It was only the talented Bettor Isolate that was able to run down Hy Voltage, with the Victorian trained gelding first up from a spell following his victory in the JC McMullen at Albion Park during the Constellations Carnival.
The Gemma Hewitt trained Kashed Up has earnt his way through to the Final, finishing runner-up in the second semi-final.
Starting an odd-on favourite, Brendan Barnes had the gelding in front until near the post as Braedos Lad arrived for victory by a head margin.
Meanwhile, recently crowned three-year-old QBRED and Springboard trotting winner You No Ill Be Late finished runner-up in a heat of the Victorian Trotters Derby at Maryborough for new trainer Emma Stewart.
Owned by Chantal Turpin, the colt has been sent south for what will likely be a hit and run mission for the Derby which will be held this coming Sunday at Maryborough.
THE MILESTONE
Having recently returned to Queensland, Bryse McElhinney was back in the winner’s enclosure at Redcliffe on Thursday afternoon, with his first win since returning and just his second win this season.
Having previously spent a stint in the Sunshine State with the Lachie Manzelmann stable, the 23-year-old, has linked with the Darrel Graham barn based in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
With one win this season, which was recorded in his native New South Wales, McElhinney went to Redcliffe with engagements aboard Potter for Darrel Graham and The Grogfather for Shane Graham.
Utilising his concession claim to gain the drive aboard The Grogfather, McElhinney rolled forward in the early stages and allowed the gelding to balance up outside the leader.
Turing off the back straight with 300 metres to travel, The Grogfather surged to the front and responded strongly to kick clear of the field.
Holding the advantage into the stretch, The Grogfather pulled clear to claim a nine metre winning margin over Katacha Man with the unlucky Letsplayuni squeezing into third placing, the winner returning a sharp 1.55.1 mile-rate.
It was the eighth career victory for gelded son of Warrawee Needy, his first on the Redcliffe Triangle and first since the four-year-old has been in the Shane Graham stable.
Formerly prepared by his Bathurst based part-owner John Boserio, the gelding had been racing well in Saturday night company at Albion Park and was duly sent out as the race favourite and did not let his supporters down, despite drifting late in betting.
McElhinney took the reins aboard Tiz A Sizzler on Saturday night at Albion Park for his first drive on the talented by injury plagued gelding.
After a tough trip outside the leader, Tiz A Sizzler faded to finish down the line behind the favourite and winner Swayzee.
THIS WEEK
Another six straight days of harness action in the South East corner of the state, with three meetings at Albion Park and three from Redcliffe for the week.
Albion Park hosts an eight race card on Tuesday afternoon before a night fixture on Friday and then Saturday’s metropolitan card will see ten races decided.
At Redcliffe there is ten races on Wednesday night before the Thursday afternoon fixture, with the week concluding with a Sunday night meeting where QBRED cash bonus will apply to all races.
During the week, Shan Graham is likely to reach 100 driving victories for the season, resuming at The Creek on Tuesday on 99 wins, currently in seventh position in the Queensland drivers premiership.
Saturday’s card also has a $20,000 Ultimate Tools three-year-old event programmed, the winner presented with a rug and trophy along with a cash bonus to the winning trainer and driver.
Menangle on Saturday night will also have plenty of Queensland eyes tuning in, with nine runners on the big Group 1 card from the Sunshine State.
Leading the charge will be Blacksadance in the Len Smith Mile and Leap To Fame in the Breeders Challenge Final.
