Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
A total of nine races will be decided on Saturday night at Albion Park, with the open class pace the highlight of the night.
Speak The Truth has drawn favourably in gate one over the flying mile.
The Shannon Price-trained six-year-old is looking to complete preparations for the Len Smith Mile.
The Janitor makes his first appearance in the open class ranks and will need to be at his best after being drawn the widest in the field from gate seven.
RING RING
Hello I Tea.
Set to jump from barrier one in the last race, the Jack Butler-trained gelding should secure the perfect trip behind the speed.
Effective along the passing lane in recent starts, this looks the ideal set-up for the breakthrough.
ROCKET v MAJOR REMATCH
Last week Major Hot and Rocket City looked the two major players in the opening race of the night.
Punters rallied behind the 2024 Queensland Derby-winner Major Hot.
However, Nathan Dawson had other plans and soon after the start set Rocket City alight to find the front and take control of the race.
Major Hot was able to burrow through to hold the back of the leader from gate one but was never comfortable in the run and his gait was interrupted on several occasions.
It was all Rocket City who carved out a big mile from the front, stopping the clock in 1.50.5 for a personal best performance.
This week the pair will again do battle in race seven, with the barrier draw advantage this week favouring Rocket City who has drawn ideally in gate one, with Major Hot in three.
After last week doing battle at the mile, this week they step up to the middle trip of 2138 metres.
It is a distance that Major Hot was able to defeat Rocket City over two starts back.
On that occasion, Rocket City was drawn off the second line, while Major Hot was able to control the tempo after starting from barrier three.
Last start winner Mydadsaid could be the one pacer to land an upset.
The Jack Butler-trained gelding is the lone second line runner, providing driver Leonard Cain with the early options in securing a perfect trip.
WILL THE TRUTH STAND UP?
Only a select group of horses ever secure the opportunity to contest a Miracle Mile and an Inter Dominion Final in their careers.
Speak The Truth is one horse that has.
The six-year-old has placed in both events, finishing third in a Miracle Mile and second in an Inter Final.
This week the Shannon Price-trained gelding will finalise his preparations in readiness for a trip south to contest the Len Smith Mile at Menangle on Eureka night.
Drawn barrier one, the gelding has been well-supported since markets opened earlier in the week and looks set to run a clear favourite over the market second elect, The Janitor.
Adam Sanderson will likely be driving Speak The Truth hard off the arm to protect the inside running, with the gelding possessing a record that shows six wins from seven attempts when leading around 'The Creek'.
Speak The Truth receives the favours from gate one.
The fortunes for the Chantal Turpin-trained The Janitor have not been as fortuitous, with the gelding to start from outside the front line in gate seven.
A winner at five of eight starts this season, the gelding has also been runner-up in two other events where he was beaten a neck and a half-neck behind Fate Awaits and Our Luciano, respectively.
It will take a strong showing for The Janitor to force his way into the Len Smith mile, despite his excellent season.
If there any other dangers in the race, it could come from the Inter Dominion Consolation-winner Jimartee who has drawn gate three for Cristina Monte and Ricky Thurlow.
Frankie Ferocious appears the other threat.
The Ben Crosby-trained five-year-old has recaptured winning form, capturing successive victories in standing start events.
CAN STRIKEM SALUTE?
Race three on Saturday night has drawn a strong field and should produce a competitive contest.
Strikem was runner-up in his heat behind Sweet Hayley Jane after the gelding was forced to work hard outside the leader.
The 54.7 second last half highlighted the strength of the performance.
In a race that has several fast beginners on the front line, Strikem has potentially drawn an awkward gate in four and will be searching to find position while also limiting the early burn.
Placed behind Hesitate at his first start in Queensland, the Shane Graham-trained three-year-old was an effortless winner of the Derby Consolation on ID Final night.
The Gemma Hewitt-trained Beachride was forced to work hard last week off the track behind Rocket City.
For this week’s event, Beachride will be able to press through at the start behind In Excess, which comes through the Redcliffe heat.
It was Beachride that defeated In Excess at Redcliffe when finishing strongly and pulling clear to post a decisive margin.
