Catch up on the week’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
A recent addition to the Matt Elkins stable fired first-up in Queensland on Saturday night when C K Spur claimed the Our Overanova Trotters Marathon.
The talented square gaiter arrived from South Australia with 20 wins to his name which included a win in the 2022 South Australian Trotters Cup.
That win was the fourth in a clean sweep of some of the biggest trotting Cups in South Australia and had followed victories in the Gawler Hambletonian Cup, the Port Pirie Cup and the Victor Harbour Cup.
Following two runs back from a spell in his latest preparation, the connections of C K Spur opted to send the nine-year-old to Elkins following a rapport built when Elkins purchased Midnight Calm from the same interests.
That move paid immediate dividends on Saturday night when Elkins drove a patient race aboard the gelding, content to settle three back on the inside as Majestic Harry and Brtittany Graham worked forward to set the speed.
With Majestic Harry looking to be travelling well approaching the home turn, Elkins spotted a gap and right-lined C K Spur into open air and the gelding responded quickly.
Balancing up for the run to the judge, C K Spur sprinted sharply at the end of the 3157 metre journey and quickly went past the leader and drew clear to claim victory by over 10 metres.
Indefensible for Kay Crone and driver Angus Garrard finished in second, while the Pete McMullen-driven and Chantal Turpin-trained Leesa Castleton darted through to grab third and relegate the race favourite Majestic Harry to fourth.
Having never trained a square gaiter previously, Elkins can now boast a feature winner at his first attempt with the trotting gait and connections also receive the $2,000 first trotting win bonus on top of the prize money.
Owned by the Five540 syndicate, with many of the members in the ownership group from South Australia, the name in reference to the post code of Port Pirie – 5540.
After the feature win, the plans for C K Spur might just be a little higher now and with the Constellations Carnival and the Inter Dominion ahead, those big races will now be in his own backyard.
After the first-up victory on Saturday slot holders for The Hayden might just have taken a little more interest in the Elkins stable.
My Ultimate Levi – a four-year-old pacer – is a feature winning performer, also owned by Five540, and is now in the Elkins stable.
THE BAD
Nathan Dawson had a huge six days last week, but unfortunately left Albion Park on Saturday night without a win in the last race that would have allowed him a weekend celebration.
Driving the odds-on favourite Stormtide for trainer Donny Smith in the last race of the night, a third placing aboard the six-year-old meant that Dawson was ‘only’ able to claim two wins for the night and went home on 99 driving wins for the season.
It was a huge week for Dawson, claiming his first ever quintet in the sulky when steering home five at the Tuesday meeting at Albion Park, followed by four at Redcliffe on Wednesday night and a treble at Redcliffe on Thursday.
Winless on Friday at “The Creek”, Dawson went into Saturday night’s metropolitan card with a full book and after wins with Cheetah Lodge for brother Mitchell and then Mach Daddy for Donny Smith, he looked well placed to bring up the ton with Stormtide.
Dazzle Me and Leonard Cain had other plans, winning the last race of the night and leaving Dawson on 99 heading into Monday’s meeting at Albion Park.
With six drives on Monday, Dawson did not have to wait long to reach triple figures.
Dead heating in the second race of the day aboard Beach On Fire for trainer Peter Greig, if there was any doubt if that counted as the 100th, it was put aside by race three, scoring aboard Ima Birubi Boy for trainer Ryan Veivers.
Dawson also breaks the national record for the fastest to reach 100 wins, reaching the milestone in 86 days, beating the previous record by just one day, held by Chris Alford and Daryl Douglas.
THE WILDCARD
There was Queensland success at the Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival on Saturday night when the Darren McCall-trained and driven Miss Froufrou was successful in the Gold Bracelet Consolation.
Finishing third in her heat for the $100,000 Final, albeit over 50 metres from the breakaway pair of Tempting Tigress and Jewel Melody, Miss Froufrou was listed as an emergency for the Final.
Not required for the Group 2 feature, the three-year-old filly drew favourable in gate one for the $20,000 consolation event and soon after the start, McCall was content to take a trail on the Bernie Hewitt-trained Betting Jewel.
With the space to work off the back of the leader as the field turned for home, Miss Froufrou had the length of the straight to wind up and was able to get past the leader, to claim the victory.
Ending her two-year-old season in with a third placing in the NSW Breeders Challenge Blue Series in November last year, the daughter of Warrawee Needy has been placed in all three starts since returning for her three-year-old season.
Lux Aeterna was successful in the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Tiara for trainer and driver Rickie Alchin, giving her Queensland based owners, Alf La Spina and family another Bathurst Group 1 success.
The La Spina’s are long-time supporters of the Bathurst carnival and the 2023 Gold Tiara will sit alongside the 2022 Gold Crown they secured with Tardelli and the 2007 Tiara won by Armida.
Now unbeaten in four appearances, Lux Aeterna is a full sister to the 2021 Queensland Derby runner-up Captain Crusader.
While the filly may not head north for Alchin and the La Spina’s for the 2023 Constellations Carnival, there is every chance that Tardelli will attempt to annex the Redcliffe Sales Series double after claiming the 2022 two-year-old division as a stepping stone to a potential Derby campaign.
THE MILESTONE
It was just on one month ago that Doug Lee secured his first driving win in over three years when partnering Hammer Son to a victory at Redcliffe.
On Saturday night, Lee was able to pick up another win aboard the same horse, however this one was even more special.
In a spirited finishing burst, Lee was able to bring Hammer Son down the outside of the track to score victory and claim the Jim McNeil Trotting Championship Final.
Beginning from his front line handicap, Hammer Son was not the safest into stride, but was able to settle back into a trot and position in the running line as Everysecondcounts worked forward to lead the 2647 metre event.
Heavily supported to start as the race favourite, Shane Graham’s Jaccka Watch was sent forward to test the early leader but Lachie Manzelmann signalled his intent to hold the lead, repelling the challenge.
As the race started to liven past the 500 metre point, Zealous Spur and Adam Sanderson were looming ominously as Everysecondcounts tried to shake free.
With 100 metres left to travel, Zealous Spur poked the nose in front but had no answer for the finishing power of Hammer Son who rattled down the outside to score victory by 2.5 metres.
Jaccka Watch found a gap late to finish in third, with Everysecondcounts holding on to fourth placing.
In a series developed to recognise the deeds of the man credited as being the pioneer of Queensland trotting, Doug Lee has now won the final more times than any other trainer.
Sitting equal with two wins apiece before Saturday’s Final with Grant Dixon and the only trainers to have won the race more than once, Lee now sits alone with his three wins after the 13th running of the series.
Hammer Son joins Scorched and Justabitnoisy as Lee’s three McNeil winners as a trainer, with Lee now equal with Grant Dixon having driven the Final winner on two occasions, with Scorched having been driven by Adam Sanderson in his 2019 victory.
THIS WEEK
The week started with seven races from Albion Park on Monday and a further three meetings for the week will be hosted from “The Creek”.
Tuesday will see nine races decided in the afternoon slot with further meetings on Friday night and Saturday night for the metropolitan fixture.
Saturday night will also see Queensland host the Australian Female Drivers Championships, with two drivers from each state participating.
Narissa McMullen hopes to be back from a recent fall to take her place in the series representing Queensland on her home deck alongside her younger sister Taleah.
Redcliffe has undergone track remediation in the past week and will be back for Wednesday night where the Peninsula club plays host to a nine race card and back up on Thursday for the regular afternoon fixture.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
