Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
TURN IT UP JOINS THE CLUB
Veteran pacer Turn It Up joined an exclusive club on Saturday night, winning the open pace and stopping the clock in a mile rate of 1.49.8.
Trained and driven by Shane Graham, the 10-year-old made the most of a perfect trip behind the speed, darting clear in the home stretch to post a seven-metre winning margin over former track record holder Blacksadance.
Turn It Up arrived in Queensland in the middle of 2020 as Group 1-winner with his career at the crossroads with ongoing injury concerns.
However, Graham has managed to maintain a sound and happy horse in the ensuing seasons.
Saturday’s win took his record to 38 wins from 110 starts, with earnings of $970,090.
A total of 26 of those wins have been recorded at Albion Park.
While the veteran may be in the twilight of his career, the latest victory highlighted that he is still lethal in open company when presented with the right trip.
Sitting behind the speed on Saturday, Blacksadance and Pete McMullen were setting a sizzling tempo in front, with a first half in 55.2 seconds, followed by a 26.9 second quarter down the back.
Turning for home, Turn It Up looked to be travelling far better and when Graham angled to the outside, the veteran responded and slipped by the leader, going on to become the eighth horse to break the 1.50 barrier at 'The Creek'.
The march towards $1 million in stake earnings continues, another record that the veteran would thoroughly deserve.
DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR DARREL
Scaling back his numbers in recent seasons, Darrel Graham has tasted training success twice in the past week with the same mare securing wins at Redcliffe and Albion Park.
Last Sunday night at Redcliffe, Graham, a four-time Group 1-winning reinsman, made a rare appearance in the sulky, partnering with a mare he prepares, Jumpingjoy.
Moving forward from a wide gate, it was a confident drive as he pulled clear to post a comfortable winning margin.
The win gave Graham his second training win of the season and his first driving win.
Setting Jumpingjoy for a metropolitan mare’s event on Saturday night om the six-day back-up, Pete McMullen was booked for the drive and was able to position the four-year-old in the one-by-one trail soon after the start.
Making his move with 250 metres to travel, McMullen set out after the leaders and Jumpingjoy responded in the home stretch, pulling clear of her rivals.
The 1.52.8 rate was a new personal best for the mare.
The win provided the Graham stable with their first metropolitan winner of the season from just a handful of starts.
STAR GAZING
The top two ranked pacers for the upcoming Inter Dominion series were both in action over the weekend and each claimed impressive wins.
At Menangle, defending Inter champion, Don Hugo, was first-up since The Race in New Zealand and he defeated a strong field from a wide gate with relative ease.
Working to the front soon after the start of the 2300 metre event, driver Luke McCarthy allowed the five-year-old to scorch home, running identical 26.8 second closing splits for a 53.6 second last half.
At 'The Creek', Leap To Fame was never in danger despite a 30-metre handicap from the standing start.
Weaving through some traffic soon after the start, Leap To Fame was in front before the mile and once in control he was never going to be threatened.
Allowed to coast home, the closing splits of 27.9 and 26.3 seconds put him just outside the track record, with the winning mile rate adjusted for his handicap coming in at 1.56.0.
Eye Keep Smiling showed her Golden Girl defence is on target, scoring another comfortable win at Menangle for McCarthy.
Eye Keep Smiling stopped the clock in 1.51.2, highlighted by a 54.5 second last 800 metres.
Chynchilla showed she could be the one to test McCarthy’s top mare.
Chynchilla scored an all-the-way victory at Albion Park over The Vicar Of Dibley and Rylee Rhayne Bow.
Burning to the front through a 26.3 second opening split. Nathan Dawson tapped the brakes through the middle half, finishing them off to stretch the Albion Park record of Chynchilla to 10 wins from 16 starts.
Rakero Rebel bounced back to winning form at Melton for Jess Tubbs on Saturday night and could be the only mare to take a spot in the Inter Dominion.
Rakero Rebel's connections are looking to finalise her Brisbane targets.
THIS WEEK
The 2025 Queensland Constellations will begin officially this weekend when Albion Park hosts a number of feature events.
For the pacers, the Flashing Red Discretionary Handicap and Queensland Sun will start the carnival, while for the trotters it will be the Tony Veivers memorial.
On Friday night, heats of the Australian Pacing Gold Brisbane Sales Graduates for each sex will be held, leading into the $100,000 Finals on June 21.
Redcliffe will host two meetings this week, their regular Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon fixtures.
