Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
ALL STARS PERFECT START
Nathan and Mark Purdon produced two starters at Albion Park on Saturday night and maintained a perfect record with both horses successful.
Rubira and Oscar Bonavena both displayed their class to suggest they will be a strong force during the Queensland Constellations in their respective targets.
Fresh off accepting an invite to contest The Rising Sun earlier in the week, Rubira defeated fellow The Rising Sun invitee Fate Awaits in a three-year-old event on Saturday night.
With an early tactical battle after Braventreacherous showed the early speed to lead, driver Adam Sanderson worked off the inside to keep Fate Awaits three wide until the 1200 metre mark where Rubira pushed on to the front in a sizzling 26.4 second opening split
That left the Grant Dixon-trained and reined Fate Awaits parked the remainder and after a tough trip and a 27.3 second closing panel, the reigning Australian two-year-old colt of the year was unable to reel in the deficit.
It was the eighth career victory for Rubira and maintained an undefeated 2025 campaign as he took his record to a perfect four from four this season.
Earlier in the night, the Purdons produced veteran trotter Oscar Bonavena to an impressive victory in the inaugural running of the Tony Veivers Memorial.
Familiarising himself with the Albion Park track in a trial eight days prior, Oscar Bonavena produced a stylish finish after being sent three-wide over the closing 600 metres.
Oscar Bonavena raced clear to stop the clock in a 1.55.7 rate for the 2138 metre trip.
The win shaved 0.3 seconds off the track record set by London To A Brick set in the 2024 Queensland Trotters Cup.
Zealous Spur grabbed second place, while Gus produced the eye-catching performance after locking wheels turning off the back straight, charging home in the closing stages for third.
Oscar Bonavena will likely back-up this coming weekend as he continues his preparation for the Inter Dominion.
STAR GAZING
It was an eventful weekend along the eastern seaboard with ramifications for the Queensland Constellations.
There were several elite performances.
Of the interstate performers, no star was brighter than the reigning Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo who thrashed his rivals on Saturday night at Menangle.
Pacing a 1.49.6 mile, the Luke McCarthy-trained five-year-old pulled clear of his rivals to post a widening winning margin.
McCarthy stated that would be his last race appearance prior to the first-round Inter heats on July 5.
Hesitate, the three-year-old stablemate of Don Hugo, defeated his older opponents over the 2300 metre trip, highlighted by a 26.4 second last quarter.
Targets for Hesitate will include the Queensland Derby and potentially The Rising Sun should the nine-time winner force his way into the field.
At Melton, the Chris Svanosio-trained Aldebaran Acrux stamped her ticket north for a tilt at the Trotting Inter Dominion series following a tough victory against trotting mares.
Rolling off the inside to sit parked for the last mile, the US-bred mare was too strong for her rivals over the closing stages and will join stablemate Arcee Phoenix for the trip to Brisbane.
Locally, two of last week’s invited runners for The Rising Sun were both successful at Albion Park on Saturday night with The Janitor and Rubira posting victories.
The Janitor highlighted why he is the pre-post favourite for The Rising Sun, charging home in the closing stages after being locked away three back along the inside.
FLASHING RED GOES TO ARODA
It was a Grant Dixon stable quinella in the Flashing Red Handicap as Aroda held off a late challenge from Free Thinker to give the team successive wins in the race following Leap To Fame’s 2024 success.
Briefly challenged for the front, Aroda burrowed through with Trista Dixon urging the five-year-old forward to repel the challenge of Regazzo Di Tilly who had stepped brilliantly at his first standing start appearance.
Producing identical opening splits of 29.6 seconds, Aroda fought off the challenge of Chevron Art and with a third quarter of 28 seconds.
There looked only three winning chances turning into the home stretch.
With a smart closing quarter of 27 seconds, Aroda held off Free Thinker who darted along the passing lane to be just a half-head from the winner.
Regazzo Di Tilly hit the line strongly for third.
It was the 16th career victory for the five-year-old who arrived in Queensland as a maiden in late 2022.
The win extended his career earnings beyond $300,000.
THIS WEEK
A 13-day stretch of racing will begin on Monday with Redcliffe hosting a night meeting to complement the Wednesday and Thursday fixtures.
Albion Park will be the focus on Saturday night with the feature racing including the Lucky Creed which will see the final run of Leap To Fame before the first round Inter Dominion heats.
A ticket to The Eureka will also be on the line when the third running of The Hayden is held.
The winner The Hayden gains the Racing Queensland slot in September’s $2 million feature.
Meanwhile, $100,000 Finals of the Australian Pacing Gold Brisbane Sales graduates series will also be held.
Marburg will join the Constellations on Sunday with the running of the $22,000 Western Star.
