Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
Group racing hits Albion Park on Saturday night for The Starlights with a bumper 10 race card.
The Group 2 Sunshine Sprint is the headline act, complemented by the Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship, Peak of The Creek final the Queen of The Creek for the pacing mares.
GET ON
Albion Park on Saturday night in race three - Mullum Hank.
The Darren Weeks-trained four-year-old has won two of his past five and produced some sectionally strong performances and the improved gate is a huge plus here.
SUNSHINE IN THREE
If following the market speculation, the Sunshine Sprint is a race in three, with The Janitor, Hi Manameisjeff and Don Hugo the only runners under double figures.
If proven Group 1 performances are the barometer, then Don Hugo, who is listed a $4.20 hope, is the litmus test despite starting from the second line.
Enjoying a stellar six-month stretch from September 2024 through to March this year, the Luke McCarthy-trained stallion claimed The Eureka, the Inter Dominion Final and the Miracle Mile.
Finishing fourth behind Leap To Fame in the 2025 Inter Dominion, the next frontier for Don Hugo will be to win a feature race interstate and off the back of his two runs back from a spell, it could be this week’s sprint.
Chasing home Captains Knock in both return runs, the first of those was at Menangle over the mile.
Then there was a huge effort wide off the track in mind blowing time at the Wagga 2800 metre journey.
The Jason Grimson-trained Hi Manameisjeff has banked over $400,000 in his career which is a huge achievement considering he is yet to win at Group 1 level.
Runner-up to Kingman in the Victoria Cup in early October, the gelding is best known for his performances at the sprint trip, which seems ideal for this week’s assignment.
The eight-year-old contested the same race where Don Hugo was second to Captains Knock.
Hi Manameisjeff had been forced to sit parked throughout after being unable to get across to find the front.
At his best in front, he has the early speed to look for the front in the Sunshine Sprint and if able to get across to the lead, he will ensure that the speed is genuine throughout.
Not known for his early gate speed, The Janitor does fare reasonably well from barrier two, which allows Pete McMullen to be in the running line from the start and not needing to slide into a position.
Working forward in the Be Good Johnny Sprint from the 1000 metre point, The Janitor took control turning into the back straight on the final occasion and produced a smart 54.3 second closing half on a spongy track.
Approaching $200,000 earnings for the season, victory will provide the four-year-old with his first Group 2 triumph as he builds towards his Group 1 grand final of the Blacks A Fake.
If there is to be an upset, Frankie Ferocious appears back to his best after some scintillating trials and has drawn ideally in gate one.
Betterthancash was brave in defeat at Redcliffe last week after racing with a flat tyre for most of the race.
DJA IS AN EVEN CONTEST
Following two heat rounds of the Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship, the decider looks one of the most even line-ups in recent years.
The only unbeaten runner from the four heats is Golden Sunset.
The classy mare is looking to emulate the deeds of Pink Galahs and Gus as the only winners to clean sweep the series.
Set to start from the 20-metre handicap, the Shawn Grimsey-trained mare has been perfectly away in both heats to find running line cover and has been able to finish over the top to score.
The task will be tougher with a capacity field of 14 on Saturday.
However, there is no denying the form that the eight-year-old is currently in.
Shane Graham has driven Golden Sunset in both heats and maintains the drive as he chases a second DJA title.
It would be 13 years after his lone success aboard King Of Strathfield, which was the last time the race was held at Gold Coast.
The enigmatic Hide And Seek finished third behind Zealous Spur in the opening round before a second-round win.
Hide And Seek got the jump on his rivals from the 20-metre handicap to find the front soon after the start in last week’s 2138 metre heat.
Trained by Shannon Price and driven by Mathew Neilson, both trainer and driver will be chasing their first respective victories in the state’s flagship trotting feature.
Zealous Spur was a round one heat winner before placing third to Golden Sunset in the second round.
The Grant Dixon-trained eight-year-old will be contesting his third successive DJA Final and is one of the five runners off the 20-metre handicap.
Sheza Chance made a first round error and needed big points in round two and delivered with a second-place finish.
Pete McMullen lands the drive for trainer Daren Garrard.
A two-time winner of the race, McMullen’s victories have been off handicaps, scoring off 10-metres with My Valerie and from 20-metres last year with Gus.
Regular driver Angus Garrard has opted to take the reins aboard the Darren Weeks-trained Get Used To It.
The gelding is starting from a 10-metre handicap and placed in both heat rounds.
With six runners under double figure odds, a capacity field over 13 furlongs, it should be a great race.
