10 July 2023 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
Harness racing at Albion Park on Saturday night was highlighted by eight feature races with the majority of the listed races taken out by New South Wales owned and trained horses.
Bathurst trainer, drivers Bernie Hewitt and Nathan Turnbull started the southern assault with their three year olds Jewel Melody and On Deadline taking out the South East Oaks and Derby, respectively.
Those victories were closely followed by the win of Forbes owned mare Uptown Beachgirl when she proved too strong for Sydney mare Braeview Kelly in the Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes.
Soon after, it was Menangle based Jason Grimson’s newest stable star Swayzee who stormed home to take out the Mr Feelgood Free For All with Cam Hart in the gig trouncing his rivals with relative ease.
Finally it was the James Rattray trained and reined trotter London To A Brick that put the cherry on the top for the New South Welshmen by taking out the Group 1 Haras Des Trotteurs The Great Square at only his 14th career start, the gelding showing great poise and balance to produce a faultless trotting display from start to finish.
Aided by a perfect James Rattray drive, London To A Brick was allowed time to settle early and with 400 four metres to run the gelding made his winning move from midfield, overpowering his rivals to sweep past them and score a comfortable win.
“He went super on Saturday night, it was so satisfying for me that he was able to step up into the open grade and do it in grand style,” said Rattray.
“The horse had earned his right to be there after what he had done in recent starts, and he proved to be spot on for the race.”
“It was just a case of him putting it altogether on the night and he could not have trotted better.”
The fantastic results achieved by the locals have certainly set the scene for the next fortnight with so many of Queensland’s feature races up for grabs, the large contingent of New South Wales horses certain to be major players.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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