Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
STILINSKI CHASING SWEEP
The second-round heats of the Jim McNeil Memorial Trotting Championship were completed on Friday at Albion Park.
Sassy Galleon and Aldebaranstilinski secured the third and fourth heats, respectively.
With the final field of 14, and one emergency, now declared following the two heat rounds, the biggest surprise was Majestic Breeze missing the decider.
After winning the opening heat, the Shane Graham-trained mare struck trouble in the last heat and with a history of tractability issues, the mare was stood down and therefore ineligible for the event.
The Mitchell Dawson-trained Aldebaranstilinski will progress to the decider unbeaten through the heats.
Aldebaranstilinski claimed a first-round victory before working home strongly off the speed to display his versatility in his second outing.
Handicapped from 20 metres through the series, Angus Garrard has taken the drive for both victories.
However, regular driver Nathan Dawson will likely reunite with the five-year-old for the Final.
First held in 2011 at the Gold Coast, the series changed format to the two heat rounds in 2015.
No Bones About It was the winner that year.
Aldebaranstilinski will need to emulate the deeds of Needle who is the only winner to sweep both heats and the Final of the championship.
Needle was successful in 2018.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR HES MY REASON
While successive wins are an accomplishment that happen regularly enough to not be deemed unique, Hes My Reason secured a feat that is not rarely seen in modern racing.
The Matt Elkins-trained and reined six-year-old claimed two wins at Redcliffe last week.
Hes My Reason posted victory on Wednesday night and then backed it up with a Thursday afternoon win.
Scoring a tough win from gate four on Wednesday night when forced to sit parked, the gelding secured a third career victory over the 1780 metre journey in a rate of 1.58.4.
Less than 19 hours later, Elkins was back at Redcliffe to contest a 2040 metre event where Hes My Reason drew outside the front line in gate six.
Despite the wide gate, rise in distance and short back-up, punters were not deterred and the gelding was sent out at the prohibitive quote of $1.06.
Hes My Reason won as the price indicated.
Elkins sent the gelding forward to find the front and pulled clear of his rivals.
The winning margin was expanding out to over 36 metres on the wire.
It has been a superb start to the year for the Elkins stable.
They have produced 10 winners at a strike rate of 29%.
The stable sits second in the state premiership and in the top 10 nationally following the completion of the first month of the season.
SATURDAY SNIPPETS
Trainer Michael Brennan secured his first win of the season as Xpress Party proved too strong for his rivals despite sitting parked throughout.
Edging to the front as the field approached the home bend, the four-year-old held off the challengers in posting a career best 1.52.1 win for driver Angus Garrard.
The win of Xpress Party was the first of a driving double for Angus Garrard.
He steered Ajay Volstead to victory in the open trot.
Settled behind the speed as Golden Sunset set the tempo in front, Ajay Volstead sprinted sharply along the passing lane to score a ninth career victory.
Ajay Volstead held off a gallant Not As Promised.
Speak The Truth bounced back to winning form in the open pace, with Adam Sanderson driving the seven-year-old forward soon after the start to take control.
Well rated through a 58.8 second opening half, Speak The Truth held off the opposition in a 54.8 second closing half to secure a half-neck margin over Im The Falcon.
FAME GAME
Leap To Fame is now just two wins away from the Victoria Cups $1 million bonus following on from his third successive Cranbourne Cup success on Saturday night.
It was the fifth instalment of the Kingman and Leap To Fame rivalry.
The Queensland champion clawed back another win to make it 3-2 in favour of the Luke McCarthy five-year-old.
Leap To Fame broke his own Cranbourne track record for the 2555 metre journey.
Pre-race drama almost denied Kingman taking his place in the field.
In what is being hailed as Leap To Fame’s greatest victory, the Grant Dixon-trained champion did what champions do and found a way to win.
Leap To Fame rose off the canvas to claim career win 63.
Leap To Fame now needs to win the Kilmore and Hunter Cups across the next fortnight to claim the bonus.
THIS WEEK
There will be six meetings held in Queensland this week, with three from Albion Park and three from Redcliffe.
It starts with a Monday night fixture from Redcliffe.
February 1 will also signify the beginning of the Team Teal campaign.
The annual fundraising effort consists of female drivers donning teal pants to raise money via the WomenCan platform.
The square gait will take centre stage from Albion Park on Saturday night, with the Our Overanova Trotters Marathon and the Jim McNeil Memorial Trotting Championship to be conducted.
Leap To Fame continues his pursuit of the $1 million Victorian bonus as he looks to add the Kilmore Cup to a bulging trophy cabinet this Saturday night.
