Showing the track is in great order, the third fastest mile of the month was recorded in Race 10 on Saturday night, when Major Fernco finished over the top to claim the Marburg to Albion Final.
The talented three-year-old posted a new career best of 1.52.8, which narrowly edged out the star open-class performer Turn It Up, who rated 1.53.0 when successful on October 24.
Turn It Up ran the fastest individual last 800-metre sectional for the month when chasing home Colt Thirty One on October 10, stopping the clock in 54.28.
The fastest closing 400-metre split was recorded on Saturday night in Race 9 when Fame Assured charged home for third, with her 26.19 marginally quicker than the 26.2 recorded by Smart As Camm Be when victorious earlier in the evening.
With further settling time, the mantle of Australia’s speed pacing capital could be on the way back to The Creek.
THE BAD
Bad storms have ripped through South-East Queensland in the past week, with damage reported in many areas - Ipswich and Scenic Rim regions particularly affected.
While the fierce winds and hail recorded has left a destructive impact, many areas have received much-needed rainfall to fill dams and tanks.
In great testament to the track staff at Redcliffe and Albion Park, just three races have been lost in the past week owing to the wet conditions.
On Tuesday, the last race at The Creek was abandoned as a result of the sheer amount of rain making the racing surface unsafe in some areas.
At Redcliffe, the last two races of the Wednesday meeting were lost when lightning activity in the area was deemed too close to safely continue.
Despite losing those events, the Thursday meeting at The Triangle went ahead without incident - the surface in great order - with winners coming from every part of the track over the eight-race card.
The conditions were far from ideal for all involved - yet to run 51 of 54 scheduled races for the week perhaps it is not so bad after all.
THE MILESTONE
With so many milestones achieved by Grant Dixon throughout his illustrious career in harness racing, sometimes the scale of some are overlooked.
On Saturday night, the current star of Dixon’s Tamborine stables equalled a mark currently occupied by arguably three of the greatest pacers trained in Queensland’s history.
Colt Thirty One moved up the Albion Park win leader board in claiming his 38th victory at the famed Breakfast Creek oval.
After the Colt secured victory in the Remembering Rip Van Winkle Open Pace, there are now four horses equal on 38 wins.
Chester, as he is known in the Dixon stables, joined Blacks A Fake, Be Good Johnny and Cobbity Classic all equal on the leaderboard.
Amazingly, Colt Thirty One has missed a minor placing just twice in 53 starts at Albion Park.
