Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
FIRST TWO-YEAR-OLD WINNER
The first two-year-old race of the season in Queensland was conducted last Tuesday at Albion Park, with Scar Struck claiming victory.
Trained by Gemma Hewitt and driven by Brendan Barnes, the colt had been trialling well in preparation for his race debut and he justified the $1.60 favourites tag with an all-the-way victory.
Finding the front soon after the start, Barnes was able to control the tempo with opening quarters of 29.5 and 32.1 seconds.
Increasing the pressure down the back straight, Scar Struck was able to dictate from the front, with the closing quarters posted in 28.3 and 28.2 seconds in recording a winning margin.
Parisian Hustler finished second for trainer Shane Graham, with Head Rush holding on for third after a tough run for trainer Steve Borg.
Scar Struck is QBRED eligible and is a graduate of the 2025 Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale.
He is the first winner produced by first season sire Dancin Lou.
Hewitt and Barnes will be hoping lightning can strike twice.
They prepare another first starter this Tuesday when Jewel Reason, who came through the same 2025 sale as Scar Struck, makes her race debut.
SATURDAY SNIPPETS
Nathan Dawson claimed driving honours at Albion Park on Saturday night, guiding home a quartet of winners.
Taking a one-win lead in the metropolitan driver's premiership after Saturday’s success, Dawson’s winners were Huxton, Speak The Truth, Iloveacalendargirl and Zahra Lou.
Across the entire program, the 10 winners were prepared by 10 different trainers.
Shes Crunchy broke through to score her first win since crossing the Tasman for Debra and Dean Belford.
Forced to sit parked, it was a tough win.
The 1.53.0 rate was a new best for the mare who has now won five races from just eight starts.
Gus finalised his preparations for a shot at Menangle’s Hammerhead Mile by producing a clinical victory in the open trot event.
The triumph took his winning streak to five.
Speak The Truth will also head south.
The Shannon Price-trained pacer claimed another tough win over 2138 metres.
The seven-year-old is chasing a second Miracle Mile berth.
TURN IT UP A MILLIONAIRE
A second-place finish on Saturday night was enough for 11-year-old Turn It Up to become harness racing’s latest millionaire.
Showing his customary explosive gate speed to lead the field from gate four, trainer and driver Shane Graham did everything in attempting to lift Turn It Up over the line for the win.
However, the fast-finishing Whos Delight charged home along the passing lane to claim victory and maintain an unbeaten record from two Albion Park appearances.
Beaten a head margin, prizemoney for second was enough for the gelding’s earnings surpass the $1 million barrier.
Battling soundness issues throughout his career, Graham has done a remarkable job in keeping the veteran happy and competitive since arriving in Queensland in 2020.
From 15 starts in New Zealand, Turn It Up was a three-time Group 1 winner.
He claimed victory in the Auckland Cup, Easter Cup and Emerald Jewels and recorded 11 wins and four seconds before his career reached a crossroads.
Scoring a first Albion Park victory at his second Queensland start on October 24 of 2020, a further 27 wins have followed.
All 28 Australian wins have been with Shane Graham in the seat.
With a lifetime best 1.49.9 rate to his name, he is also a member of a select group of pacers to better 1.50 at Albion Park.
With $534,621 of his career $1,001,289 earnings recorded at Albion Park, Turn It Up sits eighth on the all-time earners at the track.
It is a remarkable testament to his courage and longevity.
FOURTH HOTY TITLE FOR LEAP TO FAME
The accolades and awards continue to mount for Leap To Fame, with a fourth Queensland Horse of the Year title added to his amazing record.
Along with the Queensland title, Leap To Fame was also crowned the Australian Harness Horse of the Year, Australian Pacer of the Year, Aged Pacing Horse or Gelding of the Year and the Australian Grand Circuit Champion.
The Hall of Famer had another momentous season that included surpassing $5 million in stake earnings and a second Inter Dominion crown.
It was another big night for trainer Grant Dixon and owners Kay and Kevin Seymour, with a plethora of awards secured by the team behind Leap To Fame.
Dixon picked up the Australian and Queensland trainer of the year titles and also prepared the Queensland Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year Fate Awaits and the Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year Fire And Passion.
Gus was awarded the Queensland Trotter of the Year for a second consecutive year.
The Chantal Turpin-trained geldings' season was highlighted by dual Group 1 wins in New Zealand.
THIS WEEK
A total of six meetings are scheduled in Queensland for the week ahead, with three each from Albion Park and Redcliffe.
There are nine races set down for Tuesday afternoon at Albion Park which will be complemented by a Friday night and Saturday metropolitan fixture.
Redcliffe will race on Wednesday and Thursday, with a third meeting from the Peninsula set down for Sunday night.
There will be an influx of Queenslanders at Menangle on Saturday night, as Fernco Nel and Final Deadline chase Chariots Of Fire glory.
Leap To Fame, Speak The Truth and The Janitor will chase qualification for the Miracle Mile and three-year-old Fire And Passion will contest a Derby qualifier.
