Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
CHEERSTOLOU RETURNS IN STYLE
After three races in New South Wales, Cheerstolou returned to Albion Park with a bang on Saturday night.
Sent south for a tilt at the Miracle Mile, a fourth-place finish in the Newcastle Mile was the best result on paper, despite two Menangle races where the runs were full of merit.
Tackling the mile from gate seven on Saturday night, driver Layne Dwyer made his intentions clear, sending the gelding straight to the front soon after the start.
With a 27.3 second opening quarter, Dwyer dictated the pace and was able to pinch a pedestrian second panel.
It was one of the slowest recorded in an open race in recent times.
That set the race up for a smoke show on the way home, with Cheerstolou leaving his rivals chasing in vain through closing quarters of 26.7 and 26.3 seconds.
The win was the 10th Albion Park victory for the Donny Smith trained six-year-old from just 11 attempts at the venue.
Dwyer has been in the bike for nine of the wins.
NOT AS PROMISED BOUNCES BACK
Nominated for the Hammerhead Mile at Menangle, a minor mishap led to trainer Graham Dwyer abandoning plans with his star trotter Not As Promised and a potential clash with Keayang Zahara and Gus.
Given a light week, the six-year-old returned to Albion Park on Saturday night where the dual Group 1-winner was clinical in disposing of a small field under discretionary handicap conditions.
Safely into stride from a 10-metre handicap, driver Nathan Dawson sent the gelding forward and worked to the front.
Not As Promised took over from early leader Majestic Lavros with 1800 metres remaining.
Controlling the tempo with a 60.1 second opening half, Dawson allowed Not As Promised to slide from the 800 metre mark.
With closing splits of 27.9 and 27.7 seconds, it put the race out of reach of the chasing pack.
Golden Sunset fought on well for second placing after starting from a 20-metre handicap, while Majestic Lavros held third for trainer Tayla Gillespie.
It was career win 19 from 43 starts for Not As Promised, with 14 of those wins recorded at Albion Park.
PATH TO GREATNESS STEPS OUT
Living somewhat in the shadow of his stablemate Fate Awaits through their first two seasons of racing, Path To Greatness is ready to make his own name.
Scoring victory in qualifying grade on Saturday night, the now four-year-old was stepping out for the third time this season.
Unplaced when resuming in a heat of the Ultimate Driver Championship, Path To Greatness has bounced back with victories in both subsequent appearances.
Trista Dixon took the reins on the gelding over the 2138 metre journey on Saturday night, with the pair in front soon after the start.
With a slow lead time of 40.3 second and a steady first half in 59.8 seconds, Path To Greatness had plenty left in reserve with the victory over Fire Raiser for Grant Dixon.
Tralee Snickas and Leonard Cain grabbed third.
Running the last 800 metres in 54.5 seconds, it was the ninth career win for Path To Greatness, with the win taking his stake earnings close to $250,000.
Fate Awaits resumes on Tuesday afternoon at Albion Park.
RON CELEBRATES IN STYLE
Saturday proved to be a great celebration for Ron Sallis, training the quinella in the Team Teal Female Drivers Invitation.
Seaside Glory defeated Fear The Pain, with Dannielle McMullen partnering with the winner, while Alanah Richardson handled the runner-up for Sallis.
The win proved to be a savvy windfall for Sallis and wife Stacey.
The pair own the winner.
Along with the prizemoney, Seaside Glory secured a QBRED bonus by claiming her first win of the season.
Rating 1.52.4 with the win set a new life-time best for Seaside Glory who has now won six races and placed a further 17 times from 34 starts.
The win elevated Seaside Glory to ninth on the all-time earners list of Sallis-trained horses, edging past Maybetothemax.
The list is headlined by Comply Or Die.
Approaching 1,000 life-time training wins, the 14 winners this term has Sallis striking at an impressive 19% to sit within the top 10 of the state trainer’s premiership.
SATURDAY SNIPPETS
Driving honours again went the way of Nathan Dawson on Saturday night as he has opened a huge lead in the metropolitan driver’s premiership following another quartet of wins.
Landing four winners at each of the past four metro meetings, the wins came courtesy of Cool Night, Dashing, Iloveacalendargirl and Not As Promised.
The Lou Cini Memorial was claimed by the Shawn Grimsey-trained Dashing who led throughout in recording a third win for the season.
It proved to be a good night for the Cini clan.
Stephen Cini trained the winner of the opening race with Cool Night.
Cristina Monte prepared Iloveacalendargirl to victory to continue her excellent form.
Graham Dwyer secured training honours, landing a winning double as Buddy Perfect and Not As Promised claimed the last two races of the night.
THIS WEEK
A Monday afternoon meeting from Marburg starts the week, with three heats of the Goldstrike series to be conducted.
Albion Park will host three meetings for the week, with the surprise nomination of Leap To Fame an added boost to the Saturday night card.
There will be nine races on Wednesday night and the usual Thursday afternoon fixture are on the calendar for Redcliffe.
