02 November 2020 | Darren Clayton
Catch up on the week’s Queensland harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
Following resurfacing works to the Albion Park track in late September, racing returned to The Creek on October 3.
The first month with the newly cambered home bend has played host to 13 race meetings and a total of 117 races held for the month.
Some recent storm activity has tested the surface, with some heavy showers last Tuesday being compared to rain of biblical proportions.
Yet overall, the track has played superbly and despite times earlier in the month slower – as expected – the clock is now starting to get tested.
Across those 117 races, one horse holds claim to the fastest two mile-rates, the fastest of those set last Friday.
The Fortunate Son, trained by Narissa McMullen, has shown that ‘power-running’ really suits his style winning two of his past three starts.
On Friday, the six-year-old was sent forward to take control soon after the start, running the opening quarter in a sizzling 26.6 seconds.
Keeping the speed on, the next three splits were recorded in 29.3, 27.6 and home in 28.2 to stop the clock at 1.51.6, bettering his 1.52.4 run on October 9.
Showing the track is in great order, the third fastest mile of the month was recorded in Race 10 on Saturday night, when Major Fernco finished over the top to claim the Marburg to Albion Final.
The talented three-year-old posted a new career best of 1.52.8, which narrowly edged out the star open-class performer Turn It Up, who rated 1.53.0 when successful on October 24.
Turn It Up ran the fastest individual last 800-metre sectional for the month when chasing home Colt Thirty One on October 10, stopping the clock in 54.28.
The fastest closing 400-metre split was recorded on Saturday night in Race 9 when Fame Assured charged home for third, with her 26.19 marginally quicker than the 26.2 recorded by Smart As Camm Be when victorious earlier in the evening.
With further settling time, the mantle of Australia’s speed pacing capital could be on the way back to The Creek.
THE BAD
Bad storms have ripped through South-East Queensland in the past week, with damage reported in many areas – Ipswich and Scenic Rim regions particularly affected.
While the fierce winds and hail recorded has left a destructive impact, many areas have received much-needed rainfall to fill dams and tanks.
In great testament to the track staff at Redcliffe and Albion Park, just three races have been lost in the past week owing to the wet conditions.
On Tuesday, the last race at The Creek was abandoned as a result of the sheer amount of rain making the racing surface unsafe in some areas.
At Redcliffe, the last two races of the Wednesday meeting were lost when lightning activity in the area was deemed too close to safely continue.
Despite losing those events, the Thursday meeting at The Triangle went ahead without incident – the surface in great order – with winners coming from every part of the track over the eight-race card.
The conditions were far from ideal for all involved – yet to run 51 of 54 scheduled races for the week perhaps it is not so bad after all.
THE MILESTONE
With so many milestones achieved by Grant Dixon throughout his illustrious career in harness racing, sometimes the scale of some are overlooked.
On Saturday night, the current star of Dixon’s Tamborine stables equalled a mark currently occupied by arguably three of the greatest pacers trained in Queensland’s history.
Colt Thirty One moved up the Albion Park win leader board in claiming his 38th victory at the famed Breakfast Creek oval.
After the Colt secured victory in the Remembering Rip Van Winkle Open Pace, there are now four horses equal on 38 wins.
Chester, as he is known in the Dixon stables, joined Blacks A Fake, Be Good Johnny and Cobbity Classic all equal on the leaderboard.
Amazingly, Colt Thirty One has missed a minor placing just twice in 53 starts at Albion Park.
Blacks A Fake missed a top-three the same number of times, finishing in the money at 48 of his 50 appearances at The Creek.
In terms of prizemoney won solely from races held at Albion Park, Blackie leads the way, with the recent form of Colt Thirty One seeing him move into second place.
The King Of The Creek, Destreos, sits third on the prizemoney tally – but his 73 race wins looks to be rare air that may never be reached again.
With the form he has shown this campaign and the upcoming Summer Carnival riches on offer, Colt Thirty One looks set to climb the leader board.
THE WILDCARD
Taking on bucking bulls in the rodeo scene looks to have given Jonah Hutchinson the perfect grounding to take on Rousey.
No, not the female former UFC Champion and now WWE star Ronda Rousey, but the chestnut equine version that Jonah is now training.
Arriving in his stables with a stand down embargo after striking trouble at her last start in Canberra on October 19, the mare looked impressive with a strong Albion Park trial.
Making her first race appearance for Hutchinson at Redcliffe on Sunday night, the pair worked to the front soon after the start and from there were in complete control.
Keeping a solid tempo, the opposition were looking to tap out as Rousey cruised home to the easiest of victories, with the winning margin a whopping 52 metres.
It was a successful night for Hutchinson, completing a training double with the first leg, Blissfulday driven by Jonah’s partner Paige Bevan.
Six-year-old gelding Blissfulday was also a big winner with his second Redcliffe victory.
Proving too strong when working home wide off the track, the winning margin was just over 20 metres.
Fine-tuning his ringcraft with some top conditioners – the likes of Grant Dixon, Shane Graham along with a stint in Sydney for Team Tritton – Hutchinson is starting to make a mark, slowly building a strong team from his Logan Village base.
In just his second season of training, Hutchinson has built his numbers strongly, preparing 19 winners for the term to date.
The win by the equine Rousey suggests she can dominate The Triangle in the same manner the human version once dominated The Octagon.
THIS WEEK
The schedule in Queensland this week faces a shuffle owing to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
As a result, there is no TAB racing on Tuesday from Albion Park, however there will still be harness action from Redcliffe in the shape of a five-race card.
Along with the Tuesday non-TAB fixture, Redcliffe will host race meetings on Wednesday in their regular night slot and Friday will host an afternoon slot.
Albion Park will host a mammoth evening of action on Thursday, where 11 races are set down for decision.
This will complement the Saturday night metropolitan meeting.
The week will round out with a Sunday afternoon fixture from Marburg, with all races carrying a QBRED cash bonus on top of regular stakes.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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