26 October 2020 | Darren Clayton
Catch up on the week’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
It was a week to remember for the Crone family at Redcliffe, that started at Sunday’s fixture on October 18.
The family training operation is headed up by the ‘boss’ Kay Crone who is ably assisted by husband Gavin, with son Matthew and daughter Sami both integral members of the team.
Matt Crone had his first race drive back on June 4 this year and since that initial outing has been a regular driver for horses trained by his mother.
Chasing what was seemingly an elusive first victory, Matt was able to tick the win off in the last race of the night.
Sailing home down the outside, Fremarksindi gathered in the leader close to the line, opening the winning ledger.
Fast forward to the Redcliffe meeting on October 21 – again the last race of the evening – it was once again a special moment for the Crone family.
Unable to replicate the victory from Sunday evening, Fremarksindi – driven by Matt – had to settle for second placing behind his mother and her drive Schooby.
After some prolonged searching – although not fully confirmed – it is quite possibly the first time that a mother/son driving quinella has been recorded in Queensland.
Making the moment that little bit sweeter, Schooby is owned by Kay, a horse that the Crone Crew were gifted some time back by Rickie Alchin.
THE BAD
While the night may have finished in great fashion for the Crones, earlier in the night Matt was driving Attack On Command, with the gelding having its first start for the stable.
Approaching the winning post with two laps to travel, Attack On Command became unbalanced and moving inside the markers, crashed to the track right at the winning post.
Matt was not injured in the fall and although some lacerations required treatment to the horse, it also escaped serious injury.
After the upsetting moment of an unwanted first race fall and the joy of the first race win in the same week, it was a welcome end to the night.
The bad luck was not over for the week however, with Sunday’s Marburg a mixed bag for the Crone Crew where the stable had three runners engaged.
All three lined up in the same race – the Graham Harriott Memorial Trot – with Kyvalley Tinman driven by Matt, Come At Me with Gavin in the sulky and Kay behind Defence Got Jumped.
Securing another ‘quinella’ in the results, unfortunately this time it was from the other end; both Kyvalley Tinman and Come At Me striking trouble in the run to trail the field home.
However, in the process another record may well have been set – with both parents and child all competing in the same event.
The result may not have been what was hoped, yet the achievement capped a week of firsts for the Crone family.
THE MILESTONE
The Marburg Young Drivers Series held over four races and two meetings concluded at the weekend with Hayden Barnes claiming the title.
Barnes had a day out at the meeting, driving a treble from just four drives, with the first win courtesy of the Wayne Davis-trained My Ultimate Hell.
Sent straight to the front, the ten-year-old was never in danger as Barnes dictated the tempo in front to score the easiest of victories, winning by over 14 metres.
The third heat of the Series saw Hayden’s drive Cannan, sent out as the race favourite from gate one.
Content to take the trail on Domestic Art, a solid tempo ensued and angled clear at the right time, Cannan claimed a two-metre victory.
In the fourth and final Heat of the Series, Barnes had the drive on the Graham Dwyer-trained Sixpenny Red who looked awkwardly drawn off the second line.
Making an early error and missing the start, it looked a big ask around the tight Marburg circuit thereafter for the mare.
Angled wide around the home turn after slicing between runners down the back straight, Sixpenny Red exploded to the line, with Hayden high fiving the crowd he was that wide as he swept home to score.
The win gave Barnes a four-point victory in the Series, with Angus Garrard proving the most consistent to claim second.
Garrard finished the runner-up in three of the four Heats, with Chloe Butler – claiming a Heat win on the first day – holding on for third placing.
THE WILDCARD
The Crones may have closed the Wednesday Redcliffe meeting with a quinella; however, it was not the only unique one-two finish on the night.
Race four saw Vicki Rasmussen train the quinella when La Player was successful, defeating stablemate La Safron by a neck margin.
For one group of owners, it was also a quinella result.
La Safron is owned by Albion Park CEO Scott Steele, Albion Park Club Chairman David Fowler, and race broadcaster Jarrod Wessel.
The same trio share the ownership of La Player, along with Dean Jones, Darrel MacDonald and Brian Roil.
La Player is quickly turning into an astute buy after the group took up the offer to purchase the five-year-old gelding from trainer Chris Frisby who had been campaigning the pacer on his annual northern pilgrimage.
In six appearances since taking ownership of the gelding, La Player has managed to secure three victories and a narrow second placing.
With plenty more wins looking likely, it has been a great start to ownership for Wessel who has ownership in a string of pacers around the country.
A regular on the RadioTAB airwaves via their Blackbookers segment – and the established caller at the Bundaberg greyhounds – Wessel was offered the chance of his first pacer in La Safron.
With that pacer tasting success soon after purchase, it was not long until the second winner came along in the shape of La Player.
Appearing to possess the Midas touch, the big-hitting ownership group will be keen to ensure Jarrod is involved in any future purchases.
NEXT WEEK
With five Saturdays in October this year, this weekend will mark the fifth metropolitan meeting of the month.
The meet will see an Open Pace over the 2,138-metre distance as the Summer Carnival moves closer – with just another three Saturday night fixtures to follow before the Be Good Johnny Sprint kicks off a big month of action.
The latest final of the Marburg to Albion Series will also be conducted following the two heats held at Marburg on Sunday afternoon.
Major Fernco looks to have a stranglehold on the series after an impressive heat victory, and following his recent demolition of the Pot of Gold Series, the three-year-old will be out to make it four successive victories.
Tuesday at Albion Park will see some potential Summer Carnival aspirants build their preparation; the likes of Virgil, Delightful Major, Vouchers, Bombadier Jujon and Nurburgring all likely on a summer path.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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