Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
BOND HAS THE SPARK
After a decade on the sidelines, the 52-year-old Gary Bond made a return to race driving in late 2024.
Securing a comeback win before seasons end, Bond has been keeping the winners ticking over this year and at Marburg on Sunday landed his best day in the bike since returning.
The multiple Group 2-winner took driving honours for the nine-race card, booting home a treble.
The first winner came aboard Captain Oh Captain for trainer Ron Wells.
The seven-year-old landed his first win this season and 13th of his career.
The Gary Gerrard-trained Absolutely Stoked was Bond’s second winner.
Absolutely Stoked secured her third career victory after starting as a short-price favourite from barrier three.
Bond sent the Bling It On mare straight to the front and from there was never in danger.
The treble was completed when four-year-old mare Ignite The Fire finished strongly to score in the last stride.
Ignite The Fire capitalized off a strong tempo set up in the early stages.
Ignite The Fire was having just her third start for trainer Alex Johnson.
The result provided Johnson with her fourth winner of the year.
STAR GAZING
Dele Row continued his stellar season by securing his first open class victory when scoring at Albion Park on Saturday night.
The Chantal Turpin-trained four-year-old will now be firmly in the spotlight for a The Rising Sun invite as he took his season tally to seven wins from nine starts.
Watts Up Partytime completed a hat-trick of Melton victories when securing a third straight open class trot.
The Andy Gath-trained and Kate Gath-driven gelding was sent straight to the front and cruised home for an effortless win which was his seventh this season.
In heats of the QBRED Breeders Classic last Tuesday, the Grant Dixon stable was represented by a pair of two-year-olds that both shape as genuine Protostar hopefuls.
Fight For Victory overcame an error soon after the start to grab second and a spot in the decider.
Stablemate FIre And Passion scored a clinical victory and was never threatened when taking his heat for this week’s $50,000 Final.
At Menangle, Major Hot returned to winning form.
The four-year-old claimed his first win since taking out the Queensland Derby last July.
Now prepared by Jason Grimson, the gelding scored over Collect A Dime after leading the field in the 2300 metre contest.
The gelding is in the Inter Dominion nominations, while the four-year-old features will also be considered by connections.
THIS WEEK
The Trot Rods finale night will take centre stage at Redcliffe on Wednesday night, with the 10 heats to wind up the 2025 short-course season.
That will be one of three meetings at Redcliffe for the week, with the regular Thursday afternoon fixture complemented by a Sunday night meeting.
Harness fans will be in for a treat this Saturday night at Albion Park with Leap To Fame a surprise acceptor in the inaugural Avonnova Open.
Leap To Fame has drawn inside the second line for his first assignment since returning from New Zealand and his The Race victory.
The QBRED Breeders Classics will also be decided on Saturday night, with $50,000 features for the two-year-olds and three-year-olds of each sex.
