Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
The Goldstrike series at Marburg continues to build every year and on Easter Sunday it took a demolition of the track record for the winner to lift the trophy.
After breaking the track record in his heat victory, Mydadsaid obliterated the mark he set just two weeks prior, arriving in the closing strides to grab victory
Claiming maiden training success in the heats, it was feature race glory for the second career win for trainer Charlie Martin.
Mydadsaid chased gamely over the closing stages to reel in a gallant Little Bolt to claim Marburg’s biggest race.
Mongolian Conqueror had opened favourite following his heat victory and the advantageous front tape position, however, his manners let him down, galloping off the mark and back through the field to end his chances.
Once the tapes released, Trouper Jujon and Matt Elkins pinged straight to the front, and from there, Elkins tried to rate his gelding for an all the way victory, keeping a solid tempo out in front.
With the field in single file through the opening lap, Andrew Millard made a move with Little Bolt at the 1400 metre mark, sliding forward after beginning safely from 20 metres and getting to the wheel of Trouper Jujon.
With an opening quarter on the board of 30.8 seconds, the second appeared in 29.8 seconds and turning down the back straight on the final occasion, the lead pair pulled clear of the pack.
Party Changer which had been in the trail felt the pinch and started to yield ground, while Mydadsaid was three-wide the last lap and the only runner that was eating into the margin.
A slick third split of 27.6 seconds ensured it was a test of attrition and as the field approached the home bend, the winning chances appeared limited.
Millard and Little Bolt moved up to hit the front as the field wheeled into the home stretch, with Mydadsaid continuing to chase despite the wide trip.
Under the urgings of driver Leonard Cain, Mydadsaid was able to rally for one last lunge and grabbed victory by the barest possible margin over Little Bolt, with Trouper Jujon holding on for third.
It was the second Goldstrike series for Cain, having won in 2022 aboard So Am I, while for Martin, the strength of the victory by Mydadsaid might see the gelding target some bigger races moving forward.
THE BAD
With no racing on Friday owing to Easter, it was an unfortunate scenario to lose the Wednesday night meeting last week at Redcliffe.
With continued rain impacting the lighting system resulting in the abandonment, sustained effort from the track staff ensured Thursday’s meeting was run on an excellent surface.
Training honours were shared on the Thursday card, with Tayla Gillespie and Jonah Hutchinson both securing doubles.
Gillespie struck in the second race when Major Tralee was able to lead all the way, driver Matt Elkins pushing hard to find the front from gate five and then never giving the chasing pack a chance as they pulled clear to win by over 13 metres.
Continuing the combination, Elkins produced Prince Joy with a well-timed run to claim the fifth race of the day, stopping the clock in a smart 1.57.3 rate.
It was a pair of veterans that defied their age to give Hutchinson his double, 11-year-old Hoiho the first of the double before his year older stable-mate, Highview Sadler was successful.
Hutchinson took the reins on both pacers, with Highview Sadler showing no signs of slowing down, claiming his 21st victory at career start 302.
It proved a good day for the elder equines, and anyone with an affinity for the halcyon days of Channel Nine’s cricket commentary team may have found the 10-year-old winner Whostolemypigeon.
The Ben Battle-trained and driven pacer was lining up for career start 222 and with 22 career wins against his name, was able to come with a well-timed run to claim victory by a head margin.
THE WILDCARD
For the past four seasons in Queensland it has been a battle at the top of the driver’s premiership between Pete McMullen and Nathan Dawson.
McMullen claiming three titles in succession before Dawson’s record breaking 2023 season to turn the tables.
While the cousins have dominated the driver’s premiership in that time, in the past two seasons, the new kid on the block - Angus Garrard- has made inroads into the domination by finishing third in the premiership at each of the past two years.
This season, Garrard has started the term in fine form, being first driver both in Queensland and nationally to reach 50 wins and after another strong week in the sulky, maintains a lead of 12 wins in the title race.
After Dawson made the most of his opportunities in 2023 with no suspensions, this season has seen the state record holder enjoy a well-deserved holiday that was followed by a steward’s enforced break.
In the past fortnight, Dawson has stepped up the chase and both McMullen and Dawson reached the half century in the past week as they set out in a quest to reel in Garrard.
McMullen reached 50 last week with a smart drive to get Attachment home at Albion Park on Tuesday, while Dawson claimed his half century the night before at Redcliffe aboard Feelin Flirty for trainer Peter Greig.
Garrard was able to maintain the buffer by weeks end, claiming a winning double at Marburg to take his season tally to 64, sitting equal in the national title with Cam Hart.
THE MILESTONE
Forced to share victory the week prior with Bronski Delight when the judge was unable to find a verdict, Girl From Rosedale put it beyond doubt on Saturday night with victory in the mare’s open pace at Albion Park.
Sent straight to the front by driver Dannielle Veivers, the pace was kept solid throughout and the four-year-old mare was never in danger, pulling clear to record a winning margin of 7.9 metres.
Bred, owned, and trained by Ryan Veivers, the 1.52.9 winning rate was a new career best for Girl From Rosedale, eclipsing the 1.53.6 set as a three-year-old.
Always displaying brilliant speed, the mare has now won eight races in her career for the Veivers team, adding a further 10 placings in her 34 career starts.
Fired off the arm from gate three by Dannielle, the first quarter went up in 27.9 seconds, before easing the speed to a 30.3 second split.
Powering up down the back with a slick 27.3 second third panel, the chasing pack did so in vain, with a closing 27.6 second split making it a task too great.
Breaking 55 seconds for the last 800 metres, it was an impressive performance by the daughter of ill-fated sire Hurrikane Kingcole, the mare by far the best performed of Veivers 12 winners this season.
For Dannielle the win moves her close to a career milestone of 500 driving wins, with the latest victory chalking up win number 496.
THIS WEEK
A total of six days of racing are ahead which will start with Tuesday’s nine race card from Albion Park.
After impressing on debut, Ajay Volstead will face a tough ask on Tuesday squaring off against experienced campaigners, but with bigger features in store for the talented colt, it should be a good test of his abilities.
Redcliffe will host their regular weekly fixtures with ten races set down for decision on Wednesday night followed by nine on Thursday afternoon.
Friday is a night meeting at Albion Park where the Australian Pacing Gold Bullion Heats for three-year-olds will precede the Saturday night metropolitan meeting.
Marburg will make it consecutive weeks in the calendar when they host a meeting this Sunday afternoon.
