Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
Redcliffe took centre stage on Saturday night and the action on the track did not disappoint with some strong performances across the entire night.
Highlighting the strength of the racing, there were new track, race or class records established in six different categories across the night.
Four-year-old Aroda was a Redcliffe Derby Consolation winner last season and returned bigger and stronger for the Dixon stable in 2024 to claim the Redcliffe Gold Cup.
Driven by Trista Dixon, the gelding stepped cleanly from the tapes to find the front and once in control, kept them rolling along, initially repelling Turn It Up and the Send It.
With an opening half of 60.8, the pace was increased through a slick third split of 27.6 as those that tried to make moves wider on the track were thwarted by the tempo.
Turning for home, Aroda had plenty left to offer and pulled clear to a 7.6-metre winning margin, the 1.58.6 mile rate, a new race record, beating the 2020 mark of 1.58.9 held by Sole Ambition
The win provided owners Greg and Sharon Mitchell their third success in the Cup, having won the race in 2015 with Alleluia and in 2013 with Only The Brave, while for Grant Dixon it was his fourth success as a trainer in the standing start feature.
In the Garrards Redcliffe yearling Sales Series Final, the Darren Weeks trained Sinabun prove too strong for his rivals, sitting parked and pulling clear in the latter stages to defeat Hell Im Smooth and Our Sweet Jess.
It was the biggest win for Angus Garrard in his career, holding on to claim the win for his grandfather and part-owner CJ Garrard, who owns the two-year-old along with Chris Essex.
The 1.56 mile set a new two-year-old class record for the 1780 metre journey, eclipsing the 1.56.2 held by Roses Are Sweet, while also bettering the 1.56.3 race record held by Tardelli.
One of the form horses in Queensland at present is the three-year-old Ellis Street and the Murray Thomas trained gelding was sent hard off the arm to take control of the Redcliffe Derby, running them along at a slick tempo.
After an opening half of 57.9 over the 2280 metre trip, many though Nathan Dawson may have gone too hard on the gelding, however he rated Ellis Street perfectly and with a 27.9 third split, had the pack chasing.
Major Hot found space late to eat into the deficit after being buried away on the inside, however all honours were with Ellis Street as the 1.55.1 rate, set a new three-year-old class record, bettering the mark of Rocknroll Hammer set in the race last year.
The David Thorn trained Ever Art shattered the three-year-old fillies class record over 2280 when she led throughout in the Redcliffe Oaks, suggesting she will be a major player later in the carnival.
Her 1.55.4 rate sliced 1.1 seconds off the fillies record of 1.56.5 set by Amore Vita when wining the 2022 Oaks.
Cheer Leader set a new race and open mares record when claiming the Princess of the Bay, leading throughout for trainer/driver Grant Dixon.
The Al Barnes trained three-year-old filly Lucky Mum was able to fight them off in the Trotters Cup, running the 2280 metre journey in 2.01.2, bettering a five-year-old track record to push her claims for The Great Square.
STAR GAZING
Eyes were on the second race of the night at The Creek on Friday where Free Thinker and The Tax Cullector went head-to-head, with the Chantal Turpin trained The Tax Cullector claiming a smart victory over the 2138 metre journey.
Both four-year-olds have been snapped up to run in The Hayden, Free Thinker in barrier 9 for Danny Zavitsanos and The Tax Cullector in gate eight for Eddie Burchill.
My Ulitmate Buddha contested the Redcliffe Derby Consolation when finishing second and the three-year-old is also Hayden-bound for Tony Veivers and barrier three.
Three-year-old trotting filly Lucky Mum is chasing a start in The Great Square and did her chances of tackling the big one when overcoming a second line gate and older opponents to claim the Redcliffe Trotters Cup at her first Australian appearance.
At Melton, Captain Hammerhead bounced back with a victory, running the 1720 metres trip in a slick 1.51.2 and earning connections a Rising Sun invite with the win.
Mufasa Metro was defeated in the Wagon Apollo Trotters FFA, finishing fourth in his last Victorian run before heading North for two trotting features during the Constellations Carnival.
At Menangle, Dougs Platter was looking to turn his effort around, but a veterinarian concern saw him stood down after once again finishing last.
Blazing Home won the race in a slippery 1.50.4 mile, however the four-year-old may not be a carnival aspirant for Jarrod Alchin.
In the Free-for-all, Hector took some big scalps with his second successive victory, some of the beaten runners that are heading north including Captains Knock, Hot And Treacherous, Aardies Express and Loyalist.
Millwood Bliss confirmed she is right on target for the Queensland Oaks when resuming from a spell with a smart win, stopping the clock in a career best 1.50.5 mile.
Meanwhile defending Great Square champion, London To A Brick, made it successive wins in winning the opening race of the night in impressive fashion, sitting parked and pulling clear over the closing stages of the 2300 metre event.
THE WILDCARD
Following a further two heats of the Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship, the final 14 runners have been decided and will line up over the 2647 metre journey in this week’s final.
The Chantal Turpin trained, and Pete McMullen-driven Gus will looing to make it a sweep of the series, the five-year-old scoring an emphatic victory in the 2138 metre round two heat.
It was a stable double for Turpin and McMullen in winning the other first heat of the night, Top Of The Moment showing no issues with his gait to record an expanding 10-metre victory.
Settling back in the pack as the field found stride, Top Of The Moment was eased three-wide onto the back of Tam Oshanter, making a three-wide move before angling wider in the stretch and pulling clear for a smart victory.
Funny Face finished in second place, with Call Me Trouble finishing in third place through both rounds of heats, progressing his way through to the Final this Saturday night.
The second heat of the second round, it was Defensive Guy that began quickly form his 10m handicap and pressing the issue was able to find the front.
Swinging for home, Defensive Guy was starting to feel the pinch as Royal Dan moved forward on equal terms, with Gus angled to the outside and ready to set out after the leaders.
Coming with momentum, It was Gus that rattled home over the top to score, having now claimed both heat rounds heading into next week’s Final.
Royal Dan finished 4.9 metres from the winner in second, with Defensive Guy gripping on for third.
Gus will be looking to emulate Majestic Simon which was also trained by Turpin, with a DJA Final victory and a Jim McNeill in the same racing season, while McMullen will be chasing his second DJA, winning in 2015 aboard My Valerie.
The DJA Final is scheduled for this Saturday, race 7, 7.38pm.
THE MILESTONE
It may have been a case of the nervous nineties for Angus Garrard after sitting on 99 wins for one week before breaking through to reach triple figures on Friday night at The Creek.
Win 99 came at Redcliffe on June 21 before bringing up the ton in the opening race of the night on Friday June 28.
Partnering the race favourite Mullum Hank for trainer Darren Weeks, Garrard found the front early from gate two before opting for cover.
As the field straightened for home, there looked to be chances right across the track and in a blanket finish the margin between first and fifth was just a neck.
It was Mullum Hank with Garrard in the sulky that arrived in time along the passing lane to stop the clock in a 1.54.4 rate in securing the fourth win of his career.
For Garrard, the win was his 100th victory this season, his fifth successive season of reaching triple figures, having reached the milestone in every full season that he has been licenced.
After a week of no wins, Garrard was quick to move towards the next 100, claiming a winning double on Saturday and backing that up with a treble on Sunday night.
Claiming the Redcliffe Derby Consolation aboard In Excess for Darrel Graham, the win of Sinabun later in the night provided Garrard with his greatest victory in his career to date.
Again, partnering with Darren Weeks, Garrard was able to guide Sinabun to victory in the Redcliffe Sales Series Final, the victory a tough effort after being left exposed for much of the race.
Having won twice at Group Two level previously, it was the win of Sinabun gave Garrard his biggest win by stake earnings with the Sales Final contestants competing for $129,000 in total stakes this year.
The win also saw Garrard claim the victory for his grandfather, with Sinabun part owned by Chris Garrard, who also owns a share in Mullum Hank.
THIS WEEK
The Constellations move to The Creek this week for the first of four successive Saturday night’s of action.
This week’s main feature is the Somerset Farms Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship Final, where Gus will be chasing a sweep of the series.
On a big night of action, other features include the Queensland Sun where the winner gains an automatic start into the Rising Sun, the Wondais Mate Open where Leap To Fame will start from barrier one and the Queen of Hearts Pace for open mares.
The inaugural Stellar Square will also be held, where the first Queensland trained runner past the post gains automatic entry to the Great Square.
Across the week, there will be six meetings in Queensland, with three from The Creek on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and three from Redcliffe on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
