Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
100 / 200 / 2000
It was all in the numbers over the past seven days with three milestones from three leading drivers.
Grant Dixon started the ball rolling when driving his 100th winner of the season on September 21, continuing his amazing record of at least 100 wins in every season this century.
It was only fitting that the win was registered aboard a two-year-old named Great Achiever.
Dixon’s champion Leap To Fame was also back at the track on Saturday night, scoring an emphatic first up victory as he builds towards his latest campaign which will take in the Victoria Cup on October 12.
On Tuesday afternoon at Albion Park, Pete McMullen became the first Queensland driver to record a double century of winners this season when guiding Hammer Son to victory.
It was the fifth successive double century season for McMullen who stamped his authority on the day with a driving treble with wins to Shackouttheback and Tairlaw Toll.
McMullen then extended his lead in the metropolitan driver’s premiership with four winners on Saturday night at headquarters.
Nathan Dawson, currently second on the state driver’s premiership chimed in with a momentous win of his own on Wednesday night at Redcliffe.
Taking the reins aboard Ashlee Nitro, Dawson claimed his 2,000th career winner as he continues to chase McMullen in the state title.
Off the back of his state record 413 wins in 2023, Dawson is within striking distance of a another double century season.
DOUBLE BART
Darrel Graham trained the quinella of Saturday night’s Ultimate Tools 3YO pace when Tomahawk Bart was able to hold off Chicago Bart in wet conditions at Albion Park.
The win also provided Brittany Graham with a Saturday night metropolitan success which are few and far between owing to her media commitments.
Both horses are owned by Gary and Courtney Barton and have been left in the Graham’s care while the Barton’s take in an American sojourn.
Attending the recent Little Brown Jug Carnival at Ohio, Gary Barton is no stranger to a talented horse, having campaigned Another Bart many years ago.
Muscle Bart is another that had success for Barton who has had a strong association with several stables over the years, before being exported to North America as part of a team to be prepared in the States by Luke McCarthy.
Preparing the quinella with the Bart’s, Darrel Graham also finished runner-up across two states with two other runners on the night.
Majestic Harry led them until deep into the stretch before being nabbed up the passing lane, while Dragon was beaten by the barest possible margin at Newcastle behind fellow Queenslander, Iron Clad, in a heat of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge.
BERTILS THE REDCLIFFE SPECIALIST
Bertils Firefox claimed another Redcliffe victory on Thursday evening, the eight-year-old claiming his 26th career win.
Amazingly all 26 wins have been on The Triangle, with trainer John Kerr preparing the gelding throughout his racing career.
Starting with Lola Weidemann, Kerr took over the gelding before it had registered a race start with Weidemann not convinced the gelding had what it took to get to the races.
With Kerr able to give the son of Rock N Roll Heaven some individual attention, he was able to get him to the track and the patience has been repaid with the latest victory coming at his 188th start.
With the Redcliffe record for most wins held by Glenmore Admiral at 30, the two horses closing in on his record were both victorious on successive nights last week.
On Wednesday night, Ashlee Nitro landed her 28th Redcliffe victory at start 242, 17 of those wins when partnered by Nathan Dawson.
Kerr will now be looking to get past Ashlee Nitro and Glenmore Admiral and then a pair of records would be in his keeping.
With 330 starts on The Triangle, Weasel which was owned and trained by Kerr in 306 of those, holds the record for most ever Redcliffe starts.
BRIDESMAID NO MORE
Having been an astute trainer over the years from a small stable, Aileen Smith ended a drought last Wednesday night when Miss Syrah shook free of the bridesmaid tag.
With 15 career starts under the care of Jack Butler, the decision to move the three-year-old daughter of Always B Miki on caught Smith’s eye.
Taking a lease on the filly, Miss Syrah had her first start for Smith on August 7, finishing second behind a smart gelding prepared by Bernie Hewitt while Hewitt was in the Sunshine State campaigning for the carnival.
Winning at her second start for Aileen would have provided some nice symmetry as she contested the Aaron Smith (Aileen’s son) Maiden Pace, but again she had to settle for another second placing, this time behind My Scimitar.
Another three second placings would follow, with every other finisher in that second start for Smith having gone on to break maiden ranks in the ensuing weeks.
Beginning to look like she may be the eternal bridesmaid, Miss Syrah cashed in with Zac Chappenden taking the reins in last week’s victory.
For Aileen Smith, it also broke a drought; after missing a winner throughout the 2023 season, Miss Syrah was the first winner this term for the Group 1 winning trainer.
THIS WEEK
The last three months of the season begin on Tuesday when Albion Park host a nine-race card.
It will be one of three meetings for the week from The Creek, with two meetings at Redcliffe on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, providing a five-meeting week.
All eyes will be on the flight schedules, with Leap To Fame likely to head to Melton to contest the Melton Sprint on Saturday night, dependent on the plane taking off.
