Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
CHLOE TAKES TITLE
In a series of twists and turns, the 2025 Queensland Young Drivers Championship was taken out by Chloe Butler.
It was a tight series from the opening race at Redcliffe, with the wins shared by six different drivers across each of the six races.
Layne Dwyer struck first in the opening race of the series, powering home in the closing stages for a swooping victory aboard the Grant Dixon-trained Go The Red.
Dixon claimed both opening night heats.
It was Nathan Rothwell that steered Missed Consequences to victory for Dixon with Butler securing a valuable second place.
Friday night at Albion Park proved decisive in Butler’s victory.
She claimed a win with Teachers Pet for trainer Vicki Rasmussen and a second place with Boston Bronski for Donny Smith.
The other heat from 'The Creek' was another win for the Dixon stable as Gem Punter Pete proved too classy for his rivals.
Angus Garrard claimed maximum points with a well-judged drive.
Heading to Marburg for the final two heats of the series, Will Rothwell, driving in his first YDC, was able to guide the Trent Moffat-trained Chanceless Century to victory over Jilliby Panda.
Dwyer picked up valuable points with a second place finish.
With the series up for grabs heading into the final heat, five drivers could potentially win the series, depending on different result permeations.
Butler finished at the tail of the field in the last heat, which was won by Amanda Payne aboard Shakatie for trainer Warren Hinze.
However, the other results were in Butler’s favour and she finished with 50 points from the six race series.
Butler held on for a two-point victory over Garrard, with Dwyer in third on 46.5 points.
NINJA LANDS WINNING BLOW
The Ben Aldons-trained Night Ninja equalled the record for most wins at Marburg when successful on Sunday afternoon.
Celebrating a double milestone with his 150th career start, the 10-year-old veteran was tucked away in the run from the inside second line.
Charging through in the closing stages when a gap presented, the gelding arrived in time for a half-head margin to post an 11th win around the tight 700-metre oval.
Domestic Art had held the record for most Marburg wins with 10 for trainer Wayne Davis.
That record was eclipsed by Teachers Art in November last year.
Prepared by Vicki Rasmussen, it was Leonard Cain that took the reins aboard the mare when she equalled the record and then again when winning one week later to move one win clear of Domestic Art with 11 Marburg victories.
Ironically, it was Cain that drove Night Ninja to the record-equalling win on Sunday.
Cain partnered the gelding in nine of those 11 victories, with Errol Cain and Paul Diebert the other successful drivers, claiming one win apiece.
WILL TWO WIN
Having recently claimed his first race win, Will Rothwell secured his first winning double at Redcliffe last Thursday.
The first leg of the double came aboard the horse that provided his first win, a pacer he owns in partnership with twin brother Nathan, Tommy Bligh.
Holding the lead from gate one, Tommy Bligh was well rated in front by Will and had too much in reserve to claim a 14th career victory and third this season.
Just one race later and Graham White made the most of Will's claiming concession, securing his services for veteran pacer Theresachance.
Settled back in the pack, Will made his run at the right time, arriving in the last stride to score over race favourite Take A Chance.
The win was the 33rd career victory for Theresachance, with Will having partnered the gelding in two of those victories.
It was a three-win week for Will, partnering with Chanceless Century in a heat of the Queensland Young Drivers Championship for a victory at Marburg.
CONSTELLATIONS CONTENDERS
Group 1-winner Air Express made it successive Albion Park victories with an impressive win in wet conditions at 'The Creek' on Friday afternoon.
A potential The Rising Sun candidate, the Grant Dixon-trained gelding took his record to 10 wins from just 29 starts.
Another The Rising Sun hopeful was successful at Gloucester Park on Friday night as Justcallmemiki continued his winning streak since arriving in Perth.
The classy gelding - Justcallmemiki - claimed a career best rate of 1.55.0 with the tough win over 2130 metres as he sat parked the majority of the trip.
At Bathurst, there were several Constellations hopefuls in action across the week for the time-honoured Gold Crown Carnival.
A total of three runners from the inaugural Protostar were in action in the Gold Chalice.
Hesitate, My Ultimate Barney and Sweet On Lexy all finished out of the money.
Jacks Ultimate Fury proved too classy for his rivals for trainer Rusell Jack and driver David Moran with the 1.53.0 win.
Message Bank put forward his case for a slot in the 2025 Protostar.
The Captaintreacherous gelding remains unbeaten by taking out the Gold Crown for trainer and driver David Hewitt.
THIS WEEK
A change to the Tuesday schedule will see the eight-race card shifted to the night slot at Albion Park.
That will be the first of five meetings for the week in Queensland with three from 'The Creek' and two from Redcliffe.
At Tuesday’s meeting the reigning two-year-old of the year Fate Awaits is back in action as he contests a heat of the Nutrien Sales Classic.
On Friday night all eyes will switch across the Tasman as Leap To Fame and Not As Promised to take their spots in the respective slot races from Cambridge.
