Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
It is a new year and that means a new season for the standardbreds, with all horses another year older.
Season 2024 was big, but 2025 promises to be even bigger with the inaugural Ultimate Driver Championship and the Inter Dominion returning to Brisbane in a new timeslot of July.
A change in season always means smaller fields for a brief period and there will be eight races on Friday and seven on Saturday night, with a later start time of 7.02pm for the metropolitan meeting.
GET ON
Maywyn Troubador.
Contesting the second race on Saturday night, the Geoff Dawson-trained gelding is given no favours from gate seven, however looks well placed against his opponents.
A winner over the 2138 metre trip two starts back, he is much better suited at the mile and with the stable performing well over the past six weeks, the gelding can secure a 23rd career victory.
HUSTLER HAT-TRICK?
He may have ticked over into his 11-year-old season four days ago, but evergreen pacer Northview Hustler is racing at the peak of his powers.
The campaign of 2024 was wrapped with successive wins in the Albion Park and Redcliffe Christmas Cups and the gelding will chase a hat-trick of victories for just the second time in his 200 start career.
That first hat-trick came back in 2019 at his first three starts in Queensland following his arrival from the North Island of New Zealand.
Drawn gate seven for this Saturday night, the veteran will be relying on a strong tempo, with that almost assured with the speed drawn to his inside.
Captain Shuffles is a brilliant beginner.
At Captain Shuffles' last start, the pacer took the sit on Always Smokin and was able to finish best along the passing lane for a smart victory.
This will be a harder assignment from gate five for Captain Shuffles to be first to the pegs with the likes of Hot And Treacherous (two) and Mr Mclaren (three) to his inside.
The early market has seen Hot And Treacherous firm from $11 to $8.50, while Mr Mclaren has eased from $2.50 to $2.70, with Captain Shuffles finding support to be a $2 favourite.
Northview Hustler was a $9 chance on Friday morning and will again be partnered by Adam Richardson who has driven 'Huss' on 20 occasions for 11 wins.
NOT AS PROMISED TO GRAB A SIX PACK
Missing all his four-year-old season, the Graham Dwyer-trained Not As Promised will make his return to the racetrack on Saturday in the last race of the night.
Last seen when finishing fourth after a mighty run in the New Zealand Trotters Derby, the gelding has had the miles put into the legs in readiness for his return.
Given four trials to prepare, the most recent of those was a particularly smart performance when chasing the talented pacer, Free Thinker, in a slick last quarter.
The reigning Australian three-year-old trotter of the year comes back on a tight assessment, but connections have managed to find a suitable first-up race where he can bypass the open class trotters.
Set to start from gate six, the main threat looks to be Gee Cee Calder, who will start from gate eight, albeit as the only runner from the second line.
Finishing third last week behind Hide And Seek, the Shane Graham-trained seven-year-old has only started twice since arriving in Queensland and made an error in his first outing.
Benji Hall and Nortie Nortie can be place chances, with the latter hitting the line strongly on Tuesday when second-up from a spell.
Unbeaten in five previous Albion Park starts, Not As Promised can complete the six pack.
FRIDAY FINDS
The opening race on Friday night looks set to be a strong contest.
Alta Magacian is afforded no favours from gate seven, however faces a significant drop in grade, having raced in open company at his past two starts.
The Mighty Sully is a newcomer to Queensland that joins the Daren Garrard stable and looks the query runner following an impressive trial to prepare for his local debut.
Arriving with just the three wins to his name, the giant five-year-old has only faced the starter on nine occasions and will square off against some experienced and rock-hard fit pacers.
Miki Magic has three wins in her past five starts while Our Benson is a gate speed horse and from gate three will be looking to run the arm after leading throughout from gate seven last start.
In the last race of the night, Our Indifference should prove hard to beat for trainer Gemma Hewitt.
Finding a suitable race, the talented five-year-old resumed from a long break with a stylish victory before finishing second behind Our Benson at his second-up run.
Brendan Barnes will take the reins in a race where Our Indifference looks extremely well graded.
