Catch up on the weekend’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
How do you categorise the feeling of owning a winner, training a winner, or driving a winner?
Combine all three, and that is a feeling that not many in the sport get to achieve.
Add a milestone to the mix and there is a whole lot more thrill, excitement and satisfaction.
Hayden Barnes was able to achieve that on Saturday night with the victory of Gee Up Neddy, a horse that he owns on lease, trains, and drove to victory in claiming the ninth race on the card at Albion Park.
The win was also the 400th occasion that H L Barnes has been successful as a driver in his career, was number 70 for the season and the second leg of a winning double for the night.
The first leg of the double was courtesy of Northview Hustler, a horse trained by Al Barnes – Hayden’s father – who was successful in the Open Class event.
Utilising gate one to full advantage, Hayden was wearing his proverbial balaclava, able to steal a crazy 61.4 second opening half, a time unheard of in the open class ranks.
With the short-priced favourite Ashley Locaz forced to cut the breeze first-up from a spell, Barnes was sitting on a flush hand and after a very steady 28.6 third split only had to turn and burn up the stretch.
Doing exactly that, Northview Hustler had 2.3 metres to spare on the line for the easiest of victories and an even easier armchair drive.
“I thought we were a good chance if I could pinch a cheap quarter, but as it turned out, I was able to get away with 3 and once that happened I knew they wouldn’t run him down, he was bolting around the bend,” Barnes said.
Claiming career win 399 with Northview Hustler, the elusive 400 was within reach in a season that had been underwhelming for Barnes, as he lamented some lost opportunities.
Fast forward 152 minutes to Race 9, and the milestone was made official.
“It was a relief to finally get to 400 wins, after a lean period in the second half of the season,” Barnes said.
“It is good to get it out of the way as Brendan (Barnes), Matt (Elkins) and I were all heading towards 400 so we had a little rivalry of who would get there first.”
With his younger brother Brendan and Elkins both eclipsing the mark some months back, Hayden was finally able to crack the milestone with a Saturday night success.
In an ironic twist, it has likely become more memorable through the circumstances by being reached with Gee Up Neddy.
Thinking that he was a place chance following from his run last week, Gee Up Neddy was safely away, although not quite in the position that many expected.
“I thought I would be on the back of Havana Magic who looked the leader but the fence did not worry me at that speed,” Barnes said.
“They were going too quick and I was pretty confident once I angled off the fence.”
That confidence was well-placed when popping up into the running line at the 500-metre mark when Havana Magic began to wilt under the torrid trip.
In a tempered and controlled drive thereafter, Gee Up Neddy arrived for a deserved win, his fourth for Barnes.
In fact, it has been a successful period for the eldest of the Barnes brothers, with Hayden also owning shares in a number of other winners in recent weeks.
Buying shares to provide an interest outside of his Queensland stable, Barnes has ventured into some talented horses placed in various stables around the country.
Needabacardi, One Night Out, Dreamee, Stylish Trend and Ohoka Jimmy are the newest additions, with Barnes holding a percentage share in each.
THE BAD
It has not been all plain sailing with Gee Up Neddy this season, with the gelding disqualified from a race in October 2019 after returning a positive swab.
After some anxiety and concern into how the positive became, Neddy had the race taken off him under the rules, however no conviction or penalty was imposed on Barnes once the circumstances were identified.
Following a mid-year spell, it has taken some time to get Gee Up Neddy back fully fit, with the conditions on Saturday night certainly working in his favour.
Returning to the front line from the inside lane was a bonus with the eldest Barnes brother confident a top-three placing could be achieved with the nine-year-old gelding.
“His run last week was good and I thought from the draw he was a solid top-three hope as I thought he was nearly back to where he should be,” Barnes said.
With the disqualification and the disappointment of a season where things have not entirely gone as hoped, it has certainly ended on high.
However, the racing bug bit back, with five winners in the past week, a metro double and the elusive 400 having quickly changed Barnes’ plans to reconsider his career.
“I actually was not going to renew my licence, I need a break and have had a lean spell so I was not going to bother,” Barnes said.
“After Saturday night and five for the week, I thought I better get back into it.”
Winning form is the best form and it has kept Hayden in the game – for now.
THE WILDCARD
Trevor Barsby was a fearless opening batsman for Queensland that has the honour of scoring a century in the State’s first ever Sheffield Shield victory.
Barsby also faced up to some of the best bowlers in the world to have ever played the game of cricket, names like Garner, Marshall and Ambrose.
Donny Smith was involved in a Sheffield Shield squad and was a member of the Wynnum Manly’s first ever Brisbane A Grade title when defeating the Greg Chappell led Souths outfit.
Smith also faced one of the most lethal bowlers of the time in Jeff Thomson.
Matt Elkins represented Queensland in his junior years where he was an accomplished player that rates Cameron Gannon as the fastest bowler he has faced.
Gannon was the leading wicket taker in the most recent Shield competition and has since left Queensland after signing with Western Australia.
On Saturday night, Barsby, Smith and Elkins combined to form a dynamic three-prong attack with the victory of Coolie Kid in Race 5 at Albion Park.
While Barsby has had previous success as an owner, the latest victory ended a quest to achieve Saturday night glory, a goal that ‘Tank’ had been chasing for some time.
A recent acquisition from New South Wales, Coolie Kid is raced by Trevor Barsby, his partner Mary Bragagnolo, his mother Lorna, along with Ian Barsby.
The gritty win by the five-year-old gelding suggests the innings is far from over and that there are more runs in store.
THE MILESTONE
With the 2019/20 season facing various changes as a response to the COVID pandemic, club and state premierships that involve horses will continue through to December 31.
However, training, driving and other premierships that are for participants have been finalised, with the Queensland and National training title again going to Grant Dixon, rounding out the term with 290 winners.
It will be the eighth time that Dixon has claimed National honours in the past nine years, with 290 winners his third highest total, surpassed only by the mammoth 340 in 2018/19 and 291 in the 2017/2018 season when finishing second to Emma Stewart.
This season has seen the Dixon stable secure victories in Victoria, New South Wales and of course Queensland.
Leading the stable charge has been star three-year-old Governor Jujon, who also sits in the National Starters Top Twenty with a season that has returned ten wins and over $190,000 in stake earnings.
Highlights were Group victories in the South-East Derby, Colts & Geldings Triad Final, Redcliffe Sales Series 3YO Final and the Simpson Memorial.
The Gov also notched up heat wins in both the Victorian and New South Wales Derby.
Colt Thirty One recorded six wins for the season and took the stable to all three eastern-seaboard States, as well as to the North Island of New Zealand for the 2019 Inter Dominion.
Season highlights for the five-year-old were Group victories in the Swan Hill Cup and the Queensland Cup at Albion Park.
With the stable producing the quality juvenile talent to complement the established stars in The Gov and Chester, the likes of Jasper, Chamonix, Fond Memories and True Stepper will hold Dixon in good stead for another big season ahead.
THIS WEEK
It is another packed week in Queensland harness racing with meetings to be held every day of the week.
Kicking off the bonanza will be an eight-race card at Redcliffe on Monday night which will signal the end of the premierships for the 2019/20 season, with race 8 on the card also the last harness event in Australia for the season.
Albion Park will play host to its regular weekly schedule, that takes in racing on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
Redcliffe has its standard Wednesday night and Thursday fixtures as well as the added Monday night card.
The seventh meeting for the week will see Marburg host a Sunday afternoon meeting to coincide with Father’s Day.
Another edition of the always popular Marburg to Albion Series will be the main attraction on the track.
The series for the NR 47 to 52 performers will culminate with a final carrying $10,900 to be held on Saturday September 12.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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