Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
BOND YIELDS WITH CALCULATED RISK
After an extended period out of the sport, Gary Bond and partner Alex Johnson have returned with a small team.
Success came at Marburg last Tuesday when Calculated Risk was able to repay some of the hours generated in getting the enjoyment back from harness racing.
A widely travelled mare, the daughter of Art Major has alternated between the Riverina and Queensland throughout her career.
The latest victory was her fifth win split amongst four different trainers.
It was a double celebration for Bond and Johnson.
The win provided Johnson with her first success as a trainer with the nine-year-old mare she also owns.
Johnson previously held a stable hand licence.
Bond is no stranger to winning races as a reinsman, having recorded multiple Group victories with Smarty Jones and Super Falcon.
Smarty Jones and Super Falcon were talented juveniles that he prepared in the late 2000’s.
Calculated Risk was having her second run back from a spell since being purchased by Johnson, with Bond driving the mare confidently from gate one.
Holding the opposition wide through the first turn, he was able to control the race thereafter and repel the challenge of the race favourite, Splashndash in the closing stages to take the win.
It was almost a double celebration just one race later when Balboa Shannon went within a half-head of giving the returning pair a double.
INTER WATCH
On track, there was nothing locally that had a material impact on the upcoming Inter Dominion series.
Off track, there is plenty happening behind the scenes that could have a huge impact on the series, which starts in 11 days’ time.
Leap To Fame is yet to be officially announced as a scratching from the series, with a number of tests and private workouts on the agenda to decide his fate in defending his 2023 title.
With time back in his home environment, connections are hoping that there is a glimmer of hope that he can still take his part when the heats get underway at Newcastle on Friday week.
Donegal Luther would have been hoping to produce a dominant display on Saturday night, which would have impressed the ranking panel, unfortunately the washed-out meeting scuttled any hopes for Amanda Turnbull to climb the rankings ladder.
The Shannon Price-prepared Speak The Truth has been scratched from the series.
Price opted not to rush her talented pacer back, while the trotter Is That A Bid, which she also prepares, is suffering from a deep-seated hoof abscess and has also been withdrawn.
Blacksadance, who secured a golden ticket with his Queensland Cup win, is also in doubt as connections are caught in a conundrum of whether the gelding will take his place.
A stable mate of the Albion Park track record holder, Gus, is also in doubt, with a current ranking of 15 virtually assuring his place in the top 24.
Gus is also extremely doubtful to make the trip south.
PUNTER CONTINUES TO WIN
Ohoka Punter continues to deliver as a sire, having now produced nine individual two-year-old winners this season.
The Trent Dawson-trained and reined Savage Storm is the latest winner from Ohoka Punter, the gelding taking a 1.54.8-mark last Monday at Albion Park.
That makes it three sub 1.55 two-year-old winners for the season, joining Ruby Rules and Sporty Zara who have both taken a 1.54.7 rate in their maiden season of racing.
Dawson sent Savage Storm hard off the gate to take control of the race in the early stages and let the gelding slide before pulling clear of his rivals.
That time is the second quickest two-year-old winner that Trent Dawson has produced, eclipsing his star pacers For Real Life and Future Assured.
Only Talent To Spare has recorded a quicker time in her first season.
For Ohoka Punter, he continues turning out the winners.
He has now produced 30 individual winners from just 40 starters.
ACTION MAN GETS IT WRIGHT
Friday's races at 'The Creek' delivered a special moment for Mat Wright.
The win from Man Of Action produced several milestones.
Driven by Nathan Dawson, Man Of Action was sent hard of the arm from gate six and taking control through a 27.4 second opening split, was never headed thereafter.
Wright is currently having his best year as a trainer.
The latest victory took his tally to 18 winners which has surpassed his previous best of 16 which he recorded last season.
The victory was the 11th time that the seven-year-old has won for Wright.
The win took the geldings career earnings beyond the $100,000 mark and also establishing a new career best winning rate of 1.56.2.
A son of Bettors Delight, Man Of Action started his career in the North Island of New Zealand, winning two races in his homeland, before crossing the Tasman to join the Al Barnes stable.
A winner of one race with Barnes, he then had a dozen starts with Doug Manger before finding his was to Wright.
Under Wright’s care the gelding has won 11 races.
He has won four in each of the past two seasons with his past two wins both coming at Albion Park.
The latest win moves Man Of Action equal with Aunty Frances for most wins for Wright in his career to date.
THE WEEK AHEAD
A total of six days of racing begin at Albion Park on Monday, with the second of their Monday meetings while the Redcliffe lighting upgrade continues.
Marburg will again host Tuesday and Thursday afternoon meetings, with a night meeting from 'The Creek' on Friday followed by Saturday’s metropolitan fixture.
With last Saturday’s washout, the calendar has been shuffled, with the Sunshine Stars Sales Classics to be split over Friday and Saturday night.
The two trotting races will now be held on Friday, with the remaining three pacing races to be held on Saturday night.
