Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
Champions night at Cambridge will be the highlight of the weekend where Queensland will be represented by Leap To Fame, The Janitor and Gus in The Race and The Trot.
Locally there will be racing at Albion Park on Friday night and a nine-race metropolitan card on Saturday.
GET ON
Albion Park on Saturday night in race four - Whos Delight. Back to the junior free for all will be a boost for the Grant Dixon-trained six-year-old who finds suitable conditions.
FRIDAY FIND
Race three - Buddy Perfect. This gelding has been in super form for Graham Dwyer and finds a race that should generate strong tempo.
LEAP TO FAME CHASING MORE HISTORY
The highest earning pacer of all-time in Australia will move past $6 million in career stakes with victory in The Race at Cambridge on Friday night in New Zealand.
Producing arguably one of his greatest victories in the 2025 edition, Leap To Fame is back to defend his title and might just be in better form than he was last year.
Victory would also take the Hall of Famer past $1 million for the season to take his record to four consecutive terms going past the magical figure.
The seven-year-old will need to be at his best if he is to return home with the trophy after drawing barrier seven.
Although, he will start from gate five with the emergency not required.
Swayzee has drawn in barrier two for trainer Jason Grimson.
If driver Cam Hart can take the front with Swayzee from Captains Knock, who will start from gate one, then Leap To Fame likely will need to sit parked.
It is a position that has virtually become his own over the years.
Last week’s Waikato Flying Mile winner, The Janitor, draws to follow out Swayzee.
That should put the Chantal Turpin-trained gelding in a great position in the running line.
Merlin, winner of The Race in 2024, will jump from barrier three.
New Zealand Cup champion Kingman faces a tough task from outside the front line.
GUS v ZAHARA
Queensland’s leading trotter Gus was impressive last week with a Cambridge warm-up victory in the Trotters Flying Mile.
However, the task becomes even greater this week if the Chantal Turpin-trained gelding is to overturn the start of Australasian trotting in Keayang Zahara.
The pair have clashed on one occasion in the Hammerhead Mile at Menangle.
The mighty mare used her speed to lead throughout, while the Queenslander had to settle for fourth place.
Since that meeting, Gus has won last week’s Cambridge feature.
Keayang Zahara warmed up for her first trip to the North Island with a clinical trial victory on her home track of Terang.
A winner at 27 of her 28 race starts, the Marg and Paddy Lee-trained mare secures the barrier advantage on Friday under the preferential draw for mares and will start from barrier two.
Gus will need to overcome the outside of the front line.
Pete McMullen will need to produce some magic if they are to secure an upset with Gus.
Jilliby Ballerini, the regular bridesmaid to her illustrious stablemate Keayang Zahara, will start from barrier four.
Jilliby Ballerini had her final lead-up performance in the Terang Trotters Cup.
The Kiwis are yet to win The Trot with the Aussies claiming victory with Just Believe in 2024 and Arcee Phoenix bringing the trophy back across the Tasman in 2025.
They face a forlorn task in overturning the dominance already asserted in the only two editions of the event.
WINNING STREAK ON THE LINE
The Cristina Monte-trained Iloveacalendergirl will put her winning streak on the line this Saturday at Albion Park in an open mares pace.
Drawn perfectly in gate two, the four-year-old has been in sparkling form since arriving in Queensland, with four wins and a second place in five appearances.
Highlighting the strength of her wins, the mare has done what no mare has been able to achieve in recent years at Albion Park.
She has advanced in successive starts from Qualifying to Band 5 to Open class with successive wins.
Nathan Dawson has partnered with the mare in each of the wins and will again take the drive on Saturday night.
Dawson will have good insight into what is required to win the race.
He has previously driven and won races on both Sergios Rocket who is drawn to his inside and Post Painter who is drawn to his outside.
The Gemma Hewitt-trained Post Painter looms as the biggest threat to Iloveacalendergirl.
Post Painter has won four races from six starts this season, including a career best 1.51.4.
That was in an Ultimate Driver Championship heat when driven by Pete McMullen from barrier 10.
The mare has been kept fresh since a last start third behind Lux Aeterna.
Brendan Barnes will take the reins behind the mare on Saturday.
Pete McMullen has opted to partner Ima Queen Bee, which is one of three runners from the Chantal Turpin stable lining up.
Tom Callaghan will drive Sweet Mia.
Sweet Mia is first-up since a last start second behind Lux Aeterna in the Forever Gold back in December, while Turpin will drive Sweet Addition from barrier 10.
