Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
ZEUS REIGNS SUPREME
Not As Promised is known as Zeus around the Graham Dwyer stables.
However, the dual Group 1-winning three-year-old produced a herculean effort at Albion Park on Saturday night when smashing the 1660 metre track record.
Mufasa Metro was sent hard off the arm when the mobile released the field and was able to find the front with driver Matt Elkins attempting to lead throughout.
With the field strung out early, Not As Promised, under the guidance of Nathan Dawson, was steadily away, before slowly moving forward to get outside the leader after 600 metres.
With an opening quarter of 27.5 seconds followed by a 28.6 second stanza and no lead available, the track record looked in big danger after they went down the back in 27.6 seconds.
Turning for home there looked to be only three hopes, with the reigning track record holder, Golden Sunset, stalking the lead pair and awaiting the passing lane.
However, Not As Promised was too big and too strong for the opposition.
Not As Promised pulled clear in the closing stages with the final panel in 28.4 seconds.
The 1.52.3 rate smashed the previous record of 1.53.7 which was set earlier this year by Golden Sunset.
Nathan Dawson obliterated the record with the trotter that has provided him with two interstate Group 1 victories.
For trainer Graham Dwyer, Not As Promised continues to elevate the stable to new heights.
The trainer has restored the five-year-old after a disappointing New Zealand trip earlier in the season.
It is the second horse to claim the trotters record for Dwyer.
He previously held the mark with Greg The Great who trotted the then record 1.55.1 in August of 2020.
POSTMAN DELIVERS ANOTHER DOUBLE TON
Nathan Dawson put an exclamation mark on his week with a track record performance aboard Not As Promised.
Earlier in the week, Dawson - known as The Postman - secured his 200th winner of the season.
Taking the reins on the Ben Battle-trained Jive Master at Redcliffe on Wednesday night, 'The Postman' delivered victory with a well-judged drive, arriving in the closing stages to secure a seventh 200-win season.
With Dawson and Pete McMullen dominating the Queensland premierships in recent seasons, Dawson has put himself in a dominant position to regain the title he last won in 2023, after relinquishing to McMullen last year.
It may have been McMullen that was the first to 100 wins this season, with Dawson not reaching triple figures until three days short of six months into the season.
The next 100 winners took Dawson just 103 days.
Such has been the regularity of the winners; Dawson holds a 24-win lead over McMullen in the state title.
TURPIN AND MCMULLEN QUARTET
Pete McMullen has a mountain to climb to secure another state premiership.
However, he is holding a slender lead in the metropolitan title.
Another big night at headquarters on Saturday helped create a buffer from Nathan Dawson who has been in hot form in the past six-weeks.
McMullen drove a quartet of winners, with all four prepared by wife, Chantal Turpin.
Checknoutthetalent claimed a tough win in the opening race of the night.
The four-year-old secured a fifth win for the season and 11th career victory after sitting parked over the 2138 metre trip.
Sky Fawkes was the second win for the stable.
The five-year-old mare claimed her first victory since arriving in Queensland, with the 1.52.4 rate a new personal best.
They made it a winning treble with Wisper A Secret.
The Group 1-winning five-year-old was able to hold off a fast-finishing Turn It Up to stop the clock in 1.51.3 and record the 18th victory of his career.
The quartet came one race later when Sweet Mia proved too strong, pulling clear in the closing stages to score a dominant win in 1.51.7 for the mile.
Additionally for McMullen in yet another quartet of winners, the win of Sweet Mia established yet another milestone in his decorated career.
The win was the 2,000th Albion Park victory for 'Leader Pete', that tally includes seven Group 1 wins at his home track.
MCNEE BOOKENDS CARD
At the Sunday night Redcliffe meeting, trainer Mark McNee finished the night in the same manner in which it started, with victory.
Nautie Galvinator was unwanted by punters in the opening event of the night.
However, Matt Elkins was able to launch the four-year-old in the closing stages to arrive in the last strides for victory.
The win was the 10th in the career for Nautie Galvinator and fifth this season.
In the last race of the night, Redcliffe president, McNee, was represented by two runners, with Matt Elkins opting to drive Threeoeight, with Lola Weidemann driving Threefiveone.
Making the most of gate one, Threefiveone, who was resuming from a spell, gave no other horse a chance, pulling clear in the closing stages to post an impressive victory.
The debut win provided connections with the QBRED first win bonus.
THIS WEEK
All eyes will focus on Marburg this Sunday with the meeting the last of six for the week in Queensland following three from Albion Park and two from Redcliffe.
Nominations for the all-trot day at Marburg close on Wednesday at 10am, with all classes catered for.
The highlight of the card is the Graham Harriott Memorial Handicap which will offer stakes of $11,999.
Interstate, Leap To Fame will contest the Victoria Cup on Saturday night, attempting to claim another victory at Grand Circuit level.
In the Victoria Derby, Queensland will be represented by Final Deadline and Fate Awaits, with both pacers progressing to the Group 1 Final.
