Garland Greene makes a big statement

By Duane Ranger

“He’s the best trotter I have sat behind.”

That was the reaction from Queensland’s top female driver, Narissa McMullen, after the ‘new kid’ in the open class ranks gave his more experienced rivals a trotting lesson in race 11 at Albion Park on Saturday.

The Stephen Cini trained Garland Greene led all the way in the $12,850 Ultimate Tools Trotters Cup, the five-year-old, who is a son of pacing stallion, Julius Caesar, claiming a 2.6 metre victory.

“Stephen has done an amazing job with him, and has improved him so much - he’s now a very quick and tough trotter,” McMullen said.

“He had a few tricks early on but now we’ve worked him out he’s become one of my favourites to drive.

“Not only is he one of my favourites, but he’s the best trotter I have sat behind.

“He’s a beautiful going horse when he’s doing everything right, he used to make mistakes, but hopefully those days are behind him.”

McMullen has won all 11 races behind Garland Greene, including the last three in a row, along with placings in 43 starts for $63,831 in prize money.

Cini also had big praise for both driver and horse.

“Narissa knows the horse real well and drove him a treat out in front,” Cini said.

“He’s always had a lot of ability, but has been green for a while.

“He had seven starts for Darren Hancock at Menangle before he came to me in February 2019, he actually tried pacing with him but he didn’t take to it.

“He’s just needed time - a lot of it.”

The master trainer said Garland Greene was now at the top of the pecking order of the nine horses he has in work at Alberton.

“I think he’s even stronger than our other good trotter, Quietly Spoken, who has won 19 races and more than $180,000 in stakes,” Cini said.

That eight-year-old Pegasus Spur mare has recorded a personal best mile rate of 1:55.7, while Garland Greene’s lifetime best of 1:59.2 - recorded in last night’s 2,138m mobile.

“It’s a maturity thing with him (Garland Greene) and I think the penny is finally dropping,” Cini said.

“He has gone real well in recent starts and I can see him getting stronger with age.

“He’s still only five and got plenty of time; he’ll race again in another Trotters Cup on Saturday night, and will keep racing him through from there.

“He has good owners which makes it easy, I think they will win a few more with him.”

Those owners are Andrew Daniels and Josh Blunt, with Daniels also the breeder.

Colt Thirty One back in the winners’ circle

Meanwhile, the ‘gutsiest’ performance of the night came from the Grant Dixon-trained and driven Colt Thirty One in the 10^th event of the evening.

The champ proved just why he’s the current, and two-time Queensland Horse-of-the-Year.

The Kevin and Kay Seymour owned and bred five-year-old sat in the death seat for most of the 1,660m mobile, holding out Glenferrie Hood by a nose in the $13,880 Remembering ‘Viking Reign’ Open Pace.

The brilliant Mach Three entire paced the 1,660 metre mobile in 1:56.7 (mile rate 1:53.1), with sectionals of 28, 30, 28.3, and 27.

He has now won 36 of his 62 starts and $840,000 in stakes.

It was the second win for Dixon after he trained and steered Major Generaljujon to victory in race four.

Meanwhile, Jacobs Well trainer, Cristina Monte, also saluted with two winners on the night, thanks to Nathan Dawson getting Johnny White home by two metres in race five and Kotiro by a head in race seven.

Dawson finished the night with a treble - the third coming in race six behind the Greg Franklin-trained Three Mugs In.

Dawson is now back on the top of the Queensland Driving Premiership with 139 wins – one more than Peter McMullen.

Adam Sanderson and Ian Gurney also nailed a double when Mark Of Integrity and My Mastercraftsman won races eight and nine respectively.

Those victories came just a day after Sanderson labeled the $5.60 and $13.80 shots in a Racing Queensland preview.