Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
NORTHVIEW CAN STILL HUSTLE
“Northview Hustler, time to shine on the inside, can he pick up the old boy,” was the call from Chris Barsby as the winning post loomed in Saturday night’s open pace.
Pick up he did and the veteran 10-year-old darted through along the passing lane to claim victory, his second from his past three starts.
With owner and regular trainer Al Barnes facing treatment following a cancer diagnosis, Northview Hustler and My Rumour Has It have been taken on by Alanah Richardson.
Coming up with barrier one on Saturday night, it was Adam Richardson taking the reins, summing the race up perfectly by holding early until race favourite Braedos Lad moved forward to take control.
With a strong tempo set in front, Adam Richardson aimed up for the passing lane in the stretch and it was a winning move with ‘Huss’ scoring the 29th win of his career, seven of those with Adam Richardson holding the reins.
From just three starts under Alanah Richardson as the trainer, the 10-year-old has a pair of wins and a strong second behind Leap To Fame, banking over $30,000 in those three appearances.
It was also the 20th win at Albion Park for Northview Hustler, his stake earnings at 'The Creek' more than $300,000 as he now sits just one win short of $500,000 in total for his career.
Northview Hustler has proven to be a warhorse and marvel for Barnes.
The gelding has been a tough campaigner since arriving in Queensland in 2018 and posted a career personal best mile of 1.50.6 over the 1660 metre trip.
Amazingly, his 1.52.0 win at the 2138 metre trip two starts back, is in the top-five fastest ever rates over the Albion Park middle trip.
DAWSON DOUBLE TON
It was a strong end to the week for Nathan Dawson who was able to secure a pair of winning trebles at Redcliffe on Thursday and at Albion Park on Saturday.
Driving Ashlee Nitro to victory at Redcliffe for trainer Stewie Dickson, it was the mare’s 29th Redcliffe victory as she now moves within one win of Glenmore Admiral, who holds the record for most wins on the Redcliffe 'Triangle' with 30.
A total of 18 of those wins have been with Dawson taking the reins, the remaining 10 wins shared between five other drivers.
The win provided Dawson with his fifth successive double century season and sixth overall as he continues to chase Pete McMullen, who is currently leading the Queensland premiership.
Proving to be a double milestone, the win was also the 1,000th career victory for Dawson at Redcliffe, highlighting his skill in negotiating the 'Triangle' with just on 50 per cent of all his winners coming at the uniquely shaped track.
It has been a momentous few months for the defending Australian driving champion, celebrating the birth of his first child with fiancée Samantha, securing 2,000 career wins and now the latest milestone moments.
HALF CENTURY FOR CRONE
The skipper of the Crone family racing team, Matt Crone, as able to claim a winning double at Redcliffe on Sunday night thanks to wins by Goodtime Cracker and Schooby.
Applying pressure to the leader from the 500 metre point, Goodtime Cracker defied a tough run outside the leader, hit the front approaching the home bend and pulled clear to post a winning margin of 22.5 metres.
The win of Schooby saw the gelding surpass $100,000 in stake earnings, quite the achievement considering the gelding arrived with the Crones a two-start maiden and did not claim a breakthrough until his 32nd race start.
Second-up following a spell. Schooby displayed his customary gate speed, finding the front soon after the start and despite some anxious moments over the closing stages, was able to cling on for a narrow victory.
Both of Crone’s winners were partnered by Nathan Rothwell who also registered a winning treble on the night.
In his second full season of training, Crone has now registered 25 winners this term, eclipsing his 22 winners of 2023.
Ghost Train, with five wins, leads the 'Team Crone' win tally for 2024, while Defensive Guy leads the head aches and prize money column, the talented stallion having been plagued by injury and illness throughout his career.
POUNDING OUT THE WINS
Up until the middle of July, six-year-old trotter Hammer Son had started on 24 occasions for the year, having recorded four placings from those starts.
A change of driver with Pete McMullen thrown the keys to the gelding on July 23 reaped immediate success when Hammer Son was able to overcome a 20 metre handicap for an Albion Park success.
That win turned the season of Hammer Son full circle with his past 12 starts resulting in six wins as well as finishing as the runner-up on three occasions.
A winner of the Jim McNeil Trotting Championship in 2023, the gelding was amid a win drought before the latest burst of success started, going winless in 45 starts from April 2023 through until his July win.
On Saturday night, the Majestic Son gelding secured his first band assessed victory when leading throughout over the mobile 2138 metre trip.
Making the most of barrier one, Adam Richardson who was having his first drive of the six-year-old, burrowed through to protect the inside running and look for an all the way win.
With an opening half of 60.5 seconds, Richardson maintained the even tempo and was able to hold off the fast-finishing favourite Is That A Bid to score by a head margin in a rate of 1.58.3.
With seven wins for the season, Hammer Son has now registered more wins than any other trotter in Queensland this term as he prepares to line up for career start 100 at his next appearance.
SIX AGAIN
There will be six race meetings across the next week in Queensland, with three from Albion Park, two from Redcliffe and one from Marburg on Sunday to wrap the week.
Marburg will host one of their feature meetings of the year when the Graham Harriott Memorial Trot is held, named to honour the former president of the Marburg club.
The Doug Lee-prepared Hammer Son with Adam Richardson in the bike.
