Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
Nine races Friday and nine races Saturday at The Creek will precede a meeting on the grass at Kilcoy on Sunday.
Interstate, there is Queensland interest at Menangle in heats of the Carousel Series while Queensland-based owners will be represented at Melton on Saturday night in the huge 12-race VicBred Super Series Card.
HORSES TO WATCH
AIR EXPRESS
The talented Grant Dixon trained three-year-old steps out on Friday night at The Creek in race 6 as he finalises his preparation for the upcoming New South Wales Breeders Challenge.
A last start winner, the Sweet Lou gelding finished powerfully from a rearward position to post an 11-metre winning margin in a career PB rate of 1.53.8.
The gelding had an interrupted Queensland Carnival after making an error at the start of the Redcliffe Derby Consolation when starting a $1.65 elect, with that effectively scuttling the remainder of his Constellations campaign.
Starting from outside the front line on Friday night will make it a tough assignment, but he would be expecting to put this field away if chasing bigger riches in the coming weeks.
MOSSDALE TERRY
Bypassing the Constellations, the Shane Graham trained five-year-old placed behind subsequent carnival winners in the build up to the feature season.
Runner-up on successive occasions behind Wisper A Secret, he was shut down following a close third behind For Real Life.
Resuming last week behind Braedos Lad in the sizzling 1.49.7, it was a forlorn task with nothing from the rear really making any impact.
Fitter for that run, this looks a slightly easier contest and with the right trip the gelding can look to start his progression through the metro ranks.
WASA HEAT SEEKER
Set to contest the fourth race of the night, the gelding will be looking to remain undefeated since joining the Mitchell Dawson stable.
Arriving in Queensland from New Zealand- via Perth, Wasa Heat Seeker swept a recent NR70 Series, winning first up since April in the heat where he recorded a PB 1.51.5 mile.
Leading throughout in the final, the son of Sweet Lou again set a slick time, stopping the clock in 1.52.1 when holding off Chynchilla.
The five-year-old looks a progressive type, is well graded in this qualifying pace and with his high speed, should be able to progress through his classes.
INTERSTATE EYES
#QLDFORM
There will be plenty of #Qldform on display at both Melton and Menangle across the weekend.
11 horses will race on the Melton Super Series card and a further 11 at Menangle that boast appearances throughout the feature events through the Queensland winter.
MENANGLE RACE 6
The Daren Garrard trained and Angus Garrard driven The Vicar Of Dibley will contest the second heat of The Carousel Series, hoping to qualify for the $50,000 Final.
Drawn in gate seven, the Betting Line mare will be chasing a hat-trick of wins following impressive victories in her past two outings.
Charging home powerfully to claim a career best 1.51.2 when taking her first look at the spacious 1400-metre Menangle oval, the four-year-old has reportedly trained on well.
MENANGLE RACE 7
In the third Carousel heat, the Garrard’s will be represented by Catseye Beach and Chantal Turpin will have Duke Of Scotland competing.
Catseye Beach will be resuming from a spell off the back of a handy Menangle trial, her last race start a metro victory at Albion Park back in January.
Duke Of Scotland will also be fresh up, his last race start coming on August 10 where he was a beaten favourite behind Royal Cruiser over the AP 2138 journey.
Trialling in good style prior to trucking south, he paced a 55.7 last half with Jack Callaghan to take the reins for Turpin on Saturday night.
MELTON RACE 3
Queensland owned Susan Is Her Name will be chasing the third Group 1 win of her career in the VicBred four-year-old mares Final.
With an authoritative win in her heat of the series from a wide gate, the mare has been lightly raced, her 12 career starts returning seven wins.
Resuming in July from 10 months off the scene, the mare scored at Melton and was kept fresh, tackling last week’s VicBred heat second up.
Owned by Bruce Wyborn, a member of the Albion Park track staff, Susan Is Her Name started her career with Chantal Turpin before being sent to Victoria and the powerful Emma Stewart stable.
Susan Is Her Name will need to be at her best to defeat the David Miles trained Rockinwithattitude, the 2024 The Great Square winner securing the barrier draw advantage.
