Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
DIXON SIX PACK
Claiming winners in two states on the same night may not be a unique achievement, however, it is still worthy of recognition for any trainer.
On Saturday night, Grant Dixon elevated the bar when claiming a winning treble at both the Menangle and Albion Park meetings.
The Menangle treble included a pair of Group 1 victories with wins to Fate Awaits and Air Express in their respective New South Wales Breeders Challenge Finals, while Leap To Fame was arrogant with his win in the Battle of Beersheba.
Fate Awaits - a two-year-old colt - has now won five races this season with stake earnings close to $400,000, which includes a pair of Group 1 victories.
Air Express - a three-year-old - was able to lead throughout in his Breeders Challenge Final and set a new benchmark mile of 1.51.7 with victory.
With a strong showing required from the champion Leap To Fame to solidify plans for the New Zealand Cup raid, the five-year-old dominated his rivals, running them off their feet, the performance highlighted by a 26.9 second last 400 metre panel at the end of the 2300 metre event.
At 'The Creek', Dixon landed three winners, with Adam Sanderson taking the reins on all three.
Aroda was sent straight to the front to lead throughout, while the trotter Zealous Spur was too strong for his opposition, winning from the chair in a smart 1.57.1 for the mobile mile.
However, the most impressive of the three was saved for last, when two-year-old filly Cool And Classy resumed from a spell in the final race of the night.
Despite being kept three-wide from the 1000 metres, Sanderson maintained his composure.
The filly was in for the fight to claim a half-neck margin on the line.
A winner at five of her six starts, the filly will now head to the Sunshine Stars Classic, where she looks to have a mortgage on the $125,000 series.
MARBURG TRACK HEATS UP
A pair of track records were eclipsed in successive races at Marburg as the club hosted the Tuesday meeting while Albion Park was undergoing track resurfacing last week.
The Peter Greig-trained and Pete McMullen-driven Miki Magic finished best to set a new benchmark for the 2200 metre trip, stopping the clock with a 1.58.2 rate, lowering the previous mark of 1.58.8 by 0.6 seconds.
Sitting in the trail as Merge Right set the tempo, McMullen angled into space at the right time to arrive in the last stride and defeat Madrigal by a head margin.
Just one race later and the Mark Rees-trained and Shane Graham-driven Kelloshiel put on a power running display to lead throughout over the 1850 metre trip.
Graham kept the mare running, posting a winning margin of 34.3 metres, as Kelloshiel stopped the clock in 1.55.4, shaving 0.2 off the old mark, which had been held by Goelitz.
It is the second time that a Rees-trained pacer has held the 1850 metre Marburg track record, with Jewel Of Peak holding the benchmark for 18 months after winning in October of 2019 in a 1.56.8 rate.
'ID' HOPEFULS
Another dominant victory by Aroda should guarantee the five-year-old can move up the Inter Dominion rankings after his initial ranking of 84 was then lowered to 85 following the release of the second round.
Stable mate to Aroda, the square gaiter Zealous Spur also assisted his chances of moving up the rankings following a tough win in the mobile trotter’s event on Saturday night.
Already the top ranked pacer as the defending champion, Leap To Fame added a golden ticket entry with victory in the Battle of Beersheba on Saturday night at Menangle.
From that same race, Classie Washington for trainer Daren Garrard finished in seventh position after leading early and will be hoping to fortify his ranking of 33 which keeps his series aspirations alive.
The 28th ranked Blacksadance was at the trials on Friday as he prepares for his upcoming campaign that will start in this week’s Be Good Johnny Sprint.
The Chantal Turpin-trained seven-year-old was never bothered in the 1.55.2 hit-out.
NORTHVIEW CONTINUES THE HUSTLE
The pride and joy of Al Barnes, Northview Hustler, is like a fine wine, the veteran just continues to get better with age.
Claiming another Albion Park victory on Saturday night, it was the 21st win at 'The Creek' by ‘Huss’ and 30th in his career.
The veteran also eclipsed two stake money milestones with the victory, moving past $500,000 in career earnings and registering $100,000 in single season prize money for the first time in his career.
With Barnes facing his own health challenges, Alanah Richardson has been training Northview Hustler for his past five starts, recording three wins and second placing since taking on his preparation.
Adam Richardson has developed a great affinity with the veteran pacer, in the seat at his past five starts and overall has now partnered with Huss on 14 occasions for nine wins and two minor placings.
Overcoming the outside front-line gate on Saturday, Richardson put the gelding into the race in the middle stages when the pace slackened to a 30.9 second quarter.
Working up to sit at the leader’s wheel, Northview Hustler did what he does best, give his all and he was able to fight back in the stretch to claim victory.
UPCOMING
The first of three weekends of feature racing at Albion Park for the 2024 Queensland Summer Harness Carnival will take place from this Saturday.
Tuesday afternoon will see four heats of the Peak of The Creek, with barriers for the $52,000 Final on Saturday night chosen by connections in order of finishing position and then times from the heat performances.
The barrier draw will be broadcast live at approximately 4.25 pm (to be conducted between races seven and eight).
Saturday night will also see the Listed Be Good Johnny Sprint and the Queen of The Creek decided.
