Look ahead to this weekend’s harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
There are three meetings across the weekend in Queensland with plenty to dissect in each.
However, there will be an array of Queensland eyes turning their focus to Menangle on Saturday night where there will be strong representation by the Sunshine State.
The Discovery Stakes is race two at Menangle and it will garner the most interest, with the final slot for The Eureka to be chosen from a runner out of the race.
At Albion Park on Saturday, race four has the in-form Jimartee who will be out to continue his good form, with all eyes on the clock to see if the speedster can pace another monster mile.
HORSES TO WATCH
JIMARTEE
The 1.50 barrier has only been bettered on three occasions at ‘The Creek’, two of those by this Cristina Monte-trained seven-year-old.
A winner in six of his 12 starts for Monte, the gelding has been in super form, with wins in 1.49.6 and 1.49.8 in his past three starts.
Ricky Thurlow has taken the reins in both victories and will be in the driver’s seat again this week as the Sportswriter gelding chases down a 19th career success.
CHYNCHILLA
No mare is in better form at present than this Donny Smith-trained speedster who has won her past four in succession.
Overcoming the outside front-line gate two starts back, the four-year-old mare was too slick for her rivals, pacing the mile in 1.51.0.
That equalled the best rate of the fellow Donny Smith-trained Uptown Beachgirl who briefly held the Albion Park mare’s class record.
That was before Amore Vita lowered the mark to 1.50.5 when claiming the 2023 Group 1 The Golden Girl.
Chynchilla will start from two out on the second line with Wasa Heat Seeker looking the main threat following his impressive first-up victory.
TARGARYEN
The Jack Butler-trained seven-year-old raised the bat last week when stepping out for his 100th race start.
Unable to commemorate the milestone with a victory, it was still another sectionally strong performance from the gelding who has placed in five of his past seven starts.
Chloe Butler will again take the reins, with only an ounce of luck required for the gelding to secure a deserved victory.
IS THAT A BID
One of three runners to step out at Menangle for Shannon Price on Saturday night, this hulking square gaiter will be having his fourth start for the Price stable.
Breaking track records at Albion Park at the mobile over 1660 metres and then the 2138 metre standing start in his first two appearances for Price, he was brave in defeat after a tough run when parked.
Starting from a 10 metre handicap, the seven-year-old has found an ideal target to stretch his winning sequence to three wins in his past four starts.
RACE TO WATCH – DISCOVERY STAKES
Race two at Menangle on Saturday night has a strong Queensland flavour with three runners from the Sunshine State chasing down the final spot in The Eureka.
Regazzo Di Tilly for Daren and Angus Garrard, Sure Thing Captain for Shannon Price and Adam Sanderson and Wisper A Secret for Chantal Turpin, will be hopeful their performance is the one that catches the selectors eye to fill the last remaining vacant Eureka slot.
Pete McMullen has opted to stay in Brisbane where he will have seven drives at ‘The Creek’ on Saturday night, rather than head south for the drive aboard Wisper A Secret.
That opens the door for New South Wales reinsman Jack Callaghan to fill the vacant seat on The Rising Sun-winner.
A fourth Queensland-trained runner was set to line up.
However, unfortunately for owner, trainer and driver Trent Dawson, For Real Life has been scratched, succumbing to a troublesome issue.
ALBION PARK SATURDAY NIGHT PREVIEW
A total of 10 races are set down for decision at Brisbane’s pacing headquarters this Saturday, with race one to jump at 5.14pm.
Race one looks a battle between the super consistent Targaryen who draws gate two where he should be able to hold running line position and launch the closing raid.
Alta Magacian was able to lead all the way last week in the opening race of the night from gate four and moving one position closer to the fence, draws to chase the repeat.
Race three will be a keenly contested races.
The barrier draw advantage has fallen to Wasa Heat Seeker who was first-up from a spell for Mitchell Dawson in his heat for the race, where he pushed on to the front with 1200 metres remaining and running it hard throughout to stop the clock in a sizzling 1.51.5.
Chynchilla draws the second line as she looks to make it five successive wins, which includes a 1.51.0 mile two starts back.
With some doubts around if Wasa Heat Seeker can muster enough pace to hold the front early, that leaves the door ajar for Chynchilla to barge her way through to victory.
Dangerzone looks to have found his race, following two runs back from a spell.
Producing some smart closing sectionals in each of those runs, the Jack Butler-trained five-year-old can pounce to win race nine.
For a snapshot of all the information, be sure to check out the Dashboard.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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