Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
LEAP TO FAME CLINICAL IN RETURN
Reigning Inter Dominion and Grand Circuit champion Leap To Fame was back in action on Saturday night as he builds towards a three-month window that will take in feature racing in Victoria and New Zealand before returning home to defend the Blacks A Fake.
Leap To Fame's last race was back on July 19 when he decimated his rivals to claim his second Inter Dominion crown.
Leap To Fame only had to contend with a small field of five opponents on Saturday night in the 2138 metre free for all.
Slowly pressing forward as the field was released, the champ was allowed to work to the front turning out of the home straight on the first occasion.
With a steady opening half of 59.6 seconds, driver Grant Dixon increased the tempo through the third split, running down the back on the final occasion in 27.4 seconds.
While the field chased in vain, Leap To Fame zipped home in 26.3 seconds to record a 1.53.9 rate for the middle trip.
The win was the 57th in the 70-start career of Leap To Fame, with 40 of those wins recorded at his home track, Albion Park.
Aroda stuck on gamely to hold second place in his first run back with a second New Zealand Cup a potential target.
RUDI ROLLS ON
Mathew Clayton is on course to secure his best ever season after securing a training double at Marburg on Monday.
One Last Roll was the first leg of the double.
The veteran pacer secured his 38th career victory, with 18 of those under the guidance of Clayton.
Proving to be a true warhorse that has extreme versatility to match, the 12-year-old has won eight races this season along with a heat win at the Gympie Show.
Raced on lease by Clayton from Mark Rees, One Last Roll was able to burrow through to hold the front with driver Leonard Cain then able to control the pace in front to hold off the Ress-trained and owned Madrigal.
Just two races later and Clayton and Cain combined with another former Rees-trained pacer, My Ultimate Rudi.
Able to slide in behind the early leader Captain Oh Captain, My Ultimate Rudi then had enough space to angle to the outside in the closing stages and pull clear late to post victory.
The win was the 10th career success for the five-year-old and second since joining the Clayton stable following his Marburg victory on September 14.
My Ultimate Rudi boasts a unique ownership group and arguably has the biggest age range of connections of any horse racing in Australia.
The five-year-old is raced by Russel Reimer, Jim and Keith Overton along with Charlotte Peck.
Keith Overton recently turned 101 years of age and although he may not get to the track much these days, he still follows his horses with great interest.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Peck is enjoying her first foray into ownership.
Peck turned 18 years of age just a few months back and is a regular around the Clayton stables and on race days at Marburg and Redcliffe whenever the stable is represented.
ON THE MOONSHINE
Punters that took the $1.25 on offer for race favourite Moonshine Milly last Wednesday night at Redcliffe would have felt ill with 500 metres remaining in the contest.
The Grant Dixon-trained and reined two-year-old was starting to make a move from back in the pack but went off-stride and entered a full stretch gallop.
That seemingly threw away her chances of victory.
Finding gait as the field passed the 400 metre mark, Moonshine Milly was 30 metres astern of the leader, My Sweet Elise, who attempted to establish a winning break with Angus Garrard aboard.
Maintaining composure, Dixon set out after the leader with his filly and she responded with speed and as they approached the home turn, the driver had bridged the gap to around 10 metres.
Angling to the inside to take every available short cut, Moonshine Milly continued to eat into the margin.
She hit the front with 50 metres remaining and the momentum carried the two-year-old to an astonishing victory.
The daughter of Changeover has shown ability in her career to date.
But, she also has much to learn.
Following last Wednesday’s error, Moonshine Milly has been banished to the trials under embargo, which is the third time she has now faced a stand-down in just seven starts.
Bred by the Garrard family, Moonshine Milly joins siblings Mullum Hank and Whykikamoocow as winners of their dam Mad Milly, with all three sired by the Garrard-owned Changeover.
THIS WEEK
Following the effortless return to racing from Leap To Fame, trainer Grant Dixon has opted to nominate for the Smoken Up Sprint this Saturday at Melton.
Heats of the Victoria Derby will also be held this week with Queensland likely to have at least three representatives.
Fate Awaits, Final Deadline and Strikem have all been entered for Grant Dixon, Shannon Price and Shane Graham respectively.
The Chantal Turpin-trained Waikaka Magic is a notable omission.
The Monday meeting from Marburg was the first of seven consecutive days of racing in Queensland, with Albion Park and Redcliffe each hosting three meetings for the remainder of the week.
