Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
DOUBLE MILESTONE
The win of Diego Delgado at Albion Park on Friday saw two centuries achieved with the one victory.
Melissa Kendall, trainer of the eight-year-old gelding, achieved her 100th career training success, having trained her first winner back in the 2013-14 season.
Training a small team from their Toorbul base, Kendall and partner Phil Chappenden share ownership in the gelding, who has now had 136 starts since his race debut in October 2020.
Friday’s win was the 16th race victory by Diego Delgado, ranking him third by both wins and stakes from the Kendall barn.
Mister Hart and Holdingno Currency have won 17 and 19 races respectively.
Driven by Matt Elkins, who recently returned from his honeymoon, the win was his 800th career driving success.
It was the second time that Elkins has driven Diego Delgado to victory as it edged him into the next century and moved him to 49 wins for the season in a year that the whole Elkins family would like to see in the rear view mirror.
THE BLUE WREN SINGS FOR WATSON
A relocation ‘back’ to Queensland is proving to be successful for Chris Watson, claiming three winners in the past week.
The win of The Blue Wren at Marburg on Sunday moved Watson’s season tally to 20 winners, the most winners in a season throughout his career.
With a small team headlined by Sports Bounty and Justrollingaround, two wins in the week by Test Of Fire might just move the four-year-old up the pecking order in the Watson’s Jimboomba stable.
Winning on Monday at Albion Park in a time of 1.55.9, the gelding spaced his rivals with a confident Damon Watson drive.
Backing up four days later, the gelding was again impressive at 'The Creek', rating 1.53.5 and posting a big winning margin as Adam Richardson took the reins.
Test Of Fire started four times in November, recording three wins, while The Blue Wren has now won four races this season for the Watsons - two at Redcliffe and two at Marburg.
MIXED NIGHT FOR QUEENSLAND INTER HOPEFULS
Queensland’s three Inter Dominion aspirants had a mixed night at Newcastle for the running of the first round heats.
Blacksadance and Jimartee contested heat three for the pacers, the Chantal Turpin-trained Blacksadance sent to the post as the favourite from gate two.
Crossed in the early stages, Pete McMullen then sent the seven-year-old to the front and looked to ease the pace approaching the 1000 metre mark.
Chris Alford, with an inspired piece of driving,. sensed the pace slackening and eased Cantfindabettorman to the outside and made a lighting move.
Alford found the front with one lap to travel and in the wash-up Jimartee ended up four back along the inside.
With Cantfindabettorman – winner of the Consolation of 'ID23' in Brisbane- holding on to win, Blacksadance peaked on his run to finish in ninth position, with the Ricky Thurlow-driven Jimartee the eye-catching run from the race.
Finding open space late in the stretch, the gelding savaged the line to grab fourth place and important points after being snookered in the run from the inside second line gate.
Queensland’s lone trotter in the series, Gus, went to Newcastle with a mixed preparation as connections were hopeful that he could recapture his best form.
Given plenty of time to settle, McMullen had the five-year-old at the tail of the field for much of his heat.
He eased wider with 500 metres to run, looming strongly in the stretch, only to end his chances with a break and handed a stand down by the stewards.
Despite being given the opportunity to trial at Menangle on Monday and continue in the series should he pass the trial successfully, the decision was made to withdraw the gelding from 'ID24' and he has since arrived back in Queensland.
Wednesday’s second round heats at Bathurst will again see Blacksadance and Jimartee in the same heat, drawing gates one and three respectively in heat four.
SUPREME WIN
Bryse McElhinney landed his first Albion Park win as a trainer last Monday when Rock Supreme returned to winning form in the last race of the day.
A horse McElhinney shares a special bond with, Rock Supreme has now won twice under his care, providing the maiden training success to the 25-year-old when claiming victory at Redcliffe back in June.
The latest victory was the 15th career win for the gelding as it moves closer to $100,000 in stake earnings.
It was a bitter-sweet victory as McElhinney was a late replacement as the driver after his concession period ended across the weekend, paving the way for Matt Crone to claim the late pick-up.
Settled three back along the inside from gate three, Rock Supreme was eased away from the inside approaching the home bend, finding open space, and sprinting hard down the stretch to claim victory.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week will look different on the racing calendar in Queensland with a shuffle of venues and meeting times as the Redcliffe lighting project nears completion.
Monday will be a race free day, while Tuesday will again be at Marburg as it has in the past three weeks, with eight races on the card, including three heats of the Christmas Cup.
Wednesday through Saturday will all be hosted from Albion Park, with 10 races Wednesday night followed by Thursday afternoon and Friday night meetings before the Saturday metropolitan fixture will take place.
Marburg will round out the week with a Sunday afternoon meeting where the Christmas Cup will be held.
