Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE POSTMAN DELIVERING EXPRESS
Claiming a third Queensland drivers' premiership in 2025, Nathan Dawson has been quick out of the blocks as he chases a fourth state title.
He has reached 21 wins after the first 17 days of the season.
A quartet of winners on Saturday night at Albion Park’s metropolitan fixture capped a strong week for Dawson who had established an eight-win lead in the national title by Saturday night.
Dawson's state lead also ballooned to 12.
The four winners represented winning doubles for two trainers with Donny Smith preparing Cheerstolou and Missed Consequences while Mitchell Dawson prepared Bigger The Bettor and Shes A Warrawee.
It was the win by Shes A Warrawee that was the most impressive of the night with the four-year-old mare producing a huge performance in leading throughout.
Stopping the clock on 1.49.7, it is just the second time a mare has paced a sub 1.50 mile at the track.
Shes A Warrawee joined Eye Keep Smiling as the only other female pacer to achieve the feat.
Dawson drove a winner at every meeting for the week, including a treble last Tuesday which was on the board following the first three races.
BUTLER AND DWYER CHASING GUITAR
Following on from Friday’s heats of the popular Golden Guitar series at Tamworth, Jack Butler and Graham Dwyer will be represented by half the field in this week’s $50,000 Group 3 Final.
A total of five heats of the series was conducted with Dwyer claiming success in two heats.
Butler also landed victory in one heat, with second placings allowing each trainer to each qualify a further pair of runners.
The opening heat went to the Dwyer-trained Buddy Perfect, who secured a great trip behind stablemate and pacesetter Rock Hammer.
With a solid tempo, Buddy Perfect arrives in the closing strides to deny Rock Hammer victory, with both then qualifying for the decider.
Heat three went to Dwyer's Canadian Lass who used gate one to hold the early advantage and lead throughout.
Canadian Lass held off the Butler-trained Exclusive Hustler to ensure another two Queenslanders progressed.
Heat four was another front running victory, with the Butler-trained Deebo producing the biggest winning margin of the five heats to stamp his ticket.
Meanwhile, Ryan Veivers was out of luck with his two Guitar hopefuls.
However, he did not go home without some success.
The Tiger Army scored in the last race of the night.
The Tiger Army finished quickly and pulled clear of his rivals to post a big winning margin for driver Jye Coney.
SATURDAY SNIPPETS
Jack Chapple reached a career milestone on Saturday night as he claimed his 200th career win in the sulky when partnering Tims A Trooper to victory.
With stake earnings in excess of $500,000, the seven-year-old gave Chapple the milestone victory thanks to his booming finish.
Tims A Trooper arrived over the top of his opponents to record victory over Speak The Truth, with Im The Falcon in third.
Aurora Joy claimed a 15th career victory to edge closer to $200,000 in stake earnings with victory.
Eased out of the early speed battle, the six-year-old reeled the leaders in to claim victory for trainer Gemma Hewitt and driver Brendan Barnes.
Im Boo made the most of conditions to take victory in the last race of the night.
Finding the front with ease, the gelding was never in danger, with no requirement to work out prizemoney percentages.
The eight-year-old is owned, trained and reined by Danielle McMullen and continued his consistent form with three wins from his past six starts.
Cheerstolou continued his winning streak, taking his record to seven wins in eight starts since joining the Redcliffe stables of Donny Smith.
It was an effortless romp by the six-year-old who was far too slick for his rivals, providing Nathan Dawson with the first of four winners on the night.
THIS WEEK
There will be five meetings held in Queensland this week with three from Albion Park and two from Redcliffe.
Interstate, the Final of the Golden Guitar will be held at Tamworth on Friday night.
Queensland will play a big role in the outcome of the race with five runners.
Leap To Fame will look to turn the tables on his newly crowned nemesis, Kingman, when the pair contest the Ballarat Cup on Saturday night.
