13 September 2022 | Darren Clayton
Catch up on the week’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton
THE GOOD
It was a momentous week for Joedy Whitaker who had just three horses of her small team at the races.
Two ran the quinella in the two-year-old trot at Albion Park on Tuesday afternoon after Panda Fooey defeated Uwohali, and the week rounded out with Williewa Lightning winning the Marburg to Albion Final on Saturday night.
Panda Fooey, who was third on debut, was having just his second career start with Riley Butt taking the drive and who also drove the gelding in his first appearance.
It was Uwohali, with Shane Graham taking the reins, that found the front in the small field and Butt, on Panda Fooey, taking the back of the stablemate.
Uwohali appeared to be travelling well off the back, running a slippery 28.7 third quarter, and trying to shake off the challengers.
Butt angled Panda Fooey to the outside and, with three runners in contention as they fanned on the home turn, the Aldebaran Eagle-gelding finished best to defeat Uwohali by 1.7 metres.
Panda Fooey storms home for victory at Albion Park at his second race start.
Butt angled Panda Fooey to the outside and, with three runners in contention as they fanned on the home turn, the Aldebaran Eagle-gelding finished best to defeat Uwohali by 1.7 metres.
The win was sweetened by a $14,000 QBRED first win bonus going to Whitaker as the owner of Panda Fooey.
It was also the third winner from the initiative held between Racing Queensland and Haras Des Trotteurs, involving a public ballot to secure ownership in a trotting broodmare.
That broodmare was Bartali and was bred to Aldebaran Eagle by John Edmunds, with the foal purchased by Whitaker.
The well-bred gelding has a strong maternal family which boasts several Group performers, including Parisian Artiste.
Williewa Lightning takes the lead, with Hayden Barnes in the drivers seat, to score at Albion Park.
Following Tuesday’s successful afternoon, the next runner for Whitaker was late on Saturday night with Williewa Lightning in the eighth race.
After heats of the latest edition of the popular Marburg to Albion Series were held last Sunday at Marburg, Whitaker qualified Williewa Lightning for the final with a fast finishing third behind Shezaluckylady.
After driving Williewa Lightning at Marburg, Whittaker handed the reins to Hayden Barnes for the Final and the gelding was sent to the front from gate six with a stinging opening quarter of 26.9 seconds.
With the following two quarters covered in 29 and then 29.5, the gelding appeared to get tired in the stretch but responded gamely to score victory with a 29.6 closing quarter and stopping the clock in a career-best 1.55.0 rate.
THE BAD
Shawn Grimsey entered his Group 1 winning stable star Teddy Disco for a heat of the NSW Breeders Challenge at Tamworth last Thursday and probably was not expecting the strength of the opposition.
When the nominations closed, they included the top three-year-old in the country Leap To Fame.
Following the barrier draw, Grimsey may have felt an air of confidence that his gelding could test the Grant Dixon-trained dual Derby winner after Teddy Disco after he secured gate one around the tight Tamworth track.
Leap To Fame had drawn inside the second line and was set to follow out Teddy Disco over the mobile mile which laid the ground for an intriguing tactical battle.
Soon after the start, Teddy Disco secured the lead with Tom Ison taking the reins aboard the Grimsey-trained gelding, while Dixon eased early to find room to get off the inside and into the running line.
Leap To Fame, pictured winning at Albion Park, beat Teddy Disco at a heat of the NSW Breeders Challenge at Tamworth last Thursday.
After a first quarter of 29.3, Dixon sent Leap To Fame around the field to sit outside Teddy Disco and the race was on.
Running quarters of 28.5 and then 28.3, Ison was unable to shake the challenge of Leap To Fame who prevailed with a winning margin of a half-neck after a 28.2 closing panel.
Stopping the clock in 1.54.3, the win shaved 0.8 seconds off the previous track record, with another Queenslander, Tims A Trooper finishing third.
With progression to the semi-finals not clear cut, it does appear likely that the first three across the line have all secured their place in the semis on October 22.
While Dixon may have denied Grimsey the win with Teddy Disco, he was soothed defeat by providing his neighbour with a well-judged drive in the last race.
Grimsey took So Am I to Tamworth as a travelling companion for Teddy Disco and entrusted Dixon with the drive.
Also drawn inside the second line and again able to work off into the running line early, Dixon sent the five-year-old around the field with 600 metres to travel.
Moving up stylishly, he cruised straight past the leader and pulled clear for an effortless 16-metre victory.
THE MILESTONE
Chantal Turpin became the second Queensland trainer to reach 100 wins for the season after she secured a double at The Creek on Saturday night.
Entering the meeting on 99 wins, Turpin did not have a runner in the first three races. Her first commitment was in race four where she geared three runners.
With husband Pete McMullen taking the reins on Dance In The Sun and Hayden Barnes aboard Betterthandiamonds, Chantal handled Big Wheels from inside the second line.
Big Wheels brings up Chantal Turpin’s 100th training winner for the season.
Settled four back along the inside in the run as Pacific Drums took up the running through splits of 27.4, 29.7 and 27.3, Turpin angled Big Wheels off the inside with 400 metres to travel.
Being the widest runner as they turned for the run to the judge and still giving the leader a tidy start, Big Wheels responded and thundered home down the outside to reel off the fastest individual last 400 metre split of the night in 26.64.
It has been another strong season for the Turpin-McMullen stable and it is the ninth successive year to have reached 100 wins.
With an impressive strike rate of 22% this season, the win of Big Wheels was trumped by his one-year older brother Blacksadance later in the night.
After a big win the previous Saturday night in 1.50.7, Pete McMullen made his intentions clear, He was content to issue a challenge through the first 800 metres, with a sizzling opening half of 54.6, to be outside the leader Cruz Bromac.
Forcing his way to the front, there was no respite for the chasers and with closing splits of 27 and 27.6, Blacksadance stopped the clock in 1.49.2 a track record. It eclipsed his own mark and took the benchmark into what once was mythical territory – sub-1.50.
The track record for Blacksadance and the winning double with Big Wheels is timely, with their sire A Rocknroll Dance, now standing in Queensland at Somerset Farm which is owned and operated by Chantal and Pete.
THE WILDCARD
Lachie Hart has trained his first winner after he secured victory with Itsmegs at Albion Park on Friday night.
Taking over the training of the seven-year-old mare in mid-August, her first three starts for Hart were all placed efforts – one at Redcliffe and two at Albion Park.
Lining up from gate 10 on Friday, Hart engaged leading driver Pete McMullen for the assignment and, off the back of her consistent form, the mare was well supported by punters to start favourite.
Settled in the running line, McMullen eased three-wide with 600 metres to travel, moving up as the field left the back straight but still with plenty of work to do.
Fledgling trainer Lachie Hart had his first victory with Itsmegs, centre, at Albion Park on Friday night.
Turning for home, the race looked open but under McMullen’s urgings, Itsmegs dug deep to forge her way to the front and claim victory.
A daughter of former world record holder Ultimate Falcon, she is one of just two winners for her sire in Australia this season.
With 155 winners in Ultimate Falcon’s siring career, Itsmegs has moved into his top-25 performed progeny with earnings just shy of $60,000 and a career-best of 1.56.8.
The mare is owned by Lachie, along with partner Chloe Simpson and his parents, Ricky and Jodie Hart. Ricky trained her prior to Lachie taking over the mare’s preparation.
With family involvement in the sport, Lachie has been able to learn from his father as well as time spent working in the Tim Butt stable.
With two horses in the team following the recent addition of The Mach Army, it has been a great start by Hart, scoring his first win from just his sixth starter.
THIS WEEK
Five race meetings will be held in Queensland this week.
The highlight will be Saturday night at The Creek with the first tri-code involvement for Pink Ribbon
The Creek, in conjunction with Racing Queensland and Sky Racing, will donate $1,000 for each race that number 8 (pink saddlecloth) wins to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Also scheduled,0is the $20,770 Pink Ribbon Cup Qualifying Pace along with off-track fundraising held by the Embracing Pacing Team.
Albion Park has two other meetings for the week with nine races on Tuesday afternoon and a fixture on Friday night.
Redcliffe will host their regular Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon fixtures.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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