17 May 2022 | Jordan Gerrans
Champion Queensland trainer Grant Dixon will have a throw at the stumps with Flo Ryda in Wednesday evening’s Trot Rods heats as he aims to straighten up his indifferent form.
The leading Tamborine-based stable have not been regulars in the Trot Rods heats in recent years but Dixon, who trains and drives his pacers, says he will use the concept with Flo Ryda to see if he appreciates the shorter trip.
Trot Rods is run over the speedy 947 metre journey around Redcliffe’s The Triangle and the experienced horseman thinks the change could revitalise the gelding.
The son of Mach Three is a seven-time career winner but none of those have come in his last 10 efforts, last greeting the judges first in early March of this year at Redcliffe.
“He is going ok without going as good as he can,” Dixon said of Flo Ryda’s form.
“Sometimes I like to throw them in races to see whether the style of race suits them or not.
“I think he can run in the top two or three, but that is not saying much as there is only five in it.
“Sometimes it takes them one or two runs to see if this style of racing suits them and turn them right on.”
The popular Trot Rods is in its third year of existence up on the Peninsula.
While the Dixon stable are ever-present across the Sunshine State harness code, the trainer says he has not really had many from his team that have suited the one-lap races, thinking they lacked gate speed.
However, Dixon believes the Trot Rods time of the year was a key one for the industry, creating extra interest every year when they are held.
Flo Ryda will contest the second heat on Wednesday evening, with Dixon in the sulky having drawn alley three.
“It might suit his racing pattern, just the constant speed, it might help him finish off his races better,” Dixon said.
“It is worth trying as they are good prize money races and no penalties.
“They are worth going in these Trot Rods races.”
Whostolemypigeon – trained by Ben Battle and driven by Nathan Dawson – shot to the lead in Trot Rods 2022 in the opening heat of last Wednesday’s program from The Triangle in 64.66 seconds.
The Triangle will host weekly heats each Wednesday, culminating in a finale night on Wednesday, May 25, which will be isolated to 10 Trot Rods races and showcased on SKY 2.
This Wednesday’s two heats are the last two before the final night.
The quickest time over the six weeks and 20 heats of racing will receive a $10,000 cash bonus and Otto Tuza three horse float.
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