Dashman's harness examination - August 18

Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.

The 2025 'Q Stars' night lived up to expectations with 10 action-packed races celebrating all things QBRED.

It was a night full of first-time achievements, records and impressive performances as the stars of the QBRED scheme produces some scintillating displays.

The night started with Mitch Cox claiming his first metropolitan driving victory when guiding Hold Onto Ya Bling to a swooping victory.

With a strong pace set through the middle stages, Cox drove patiently before setting the five-year-old free at the top of the stretch to claim victory for trainer Shannon Price.

EUREKA BOUND?

Attachment enhanced his claim for a spot in The Eureka when leading throughout to take the four-year-old entires and geldings race.

Having momentarily held a slot in the $2.1 million race, the Chantal Turpin-trained gelding lost his slot in the steward’s room following a protest decision in The Hayden earlier this season.

Driver Pete McMullen said they would take a spot for Attachment should an offer be presented.

RYLEE DENIED

Chasing a sweep of the four-year-old division following Attachment’s victory, the Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen combination had race favourite Rylee Rhayne Bow in the mares event.

However, after finding the front from the second line, a rare Triad trilogy was denied for the favourite when she was beaten in the last strides by La Derniere for trainer Donny Smith.

A relative newcomer to the Smith stable, the mare was able to find the front early before Angus Garrard allowed McMullen and Rylee Rhayne Bow to take control.

For Smith, it was a bittersweet victory in securing a mares feature following the loss of Chynchilla last month prior to the Golden Girl.

FIRE SIZZLES

Fire And Passion continued his impressive season for the Grant Dixon stable, scoring a dominant victory in the two-year-old colts and geldings decider.

Sent forward to take control soon after the start, the race was never in danger with Fire And Passion scoring the first Group 1 victory of his career, while also providing owner Ben Seymour his first win at the elite level.

Posting a sizzling 26.8 second closing quarter, the talented colt is now likely to head for a well-earned break.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

In the three-year-old fillies Group 1 Final, Arrive continued the amazing QBRED success of her dam Washingtons Lass.

The Chantal Turpin-trained filly produced a tough and determined victory after racing without cover for the majority of the race.

Despite doing all the work in the run, Arrive was able to outmuscle her opponents. 

The result provided owner John Polson with yet another Group 1 success, with the 1.53.0 victory setting a new race record and equaling the class record held by Millwood Bliss.

While Polson may downplay his achievements in the sport, there is no doubting the QBRED legacy that Washington Lass has left.

PITTS RIDING HIGH

The last Group 1 of the night was the two-year-old fillies division where Victorian visitor Ride The Highs proved far too dominant for her rivals.

While it was the 31st Group 1 driving success for Mark Pitt, it was the first training success at the elite level for his wife Lisa.

Finding the front effortlessly, Ride The Highs was never threatened, pulling clear to post a winning margin while stopping the clock in an electric 1.53.1 mile rate.

The winning time established a new race record.

It eclipsed the previous best 1.53.6 held by Jewel Melody, while it also lowered the two-year-old fillies class record by 0.2 seconds, a mark previously held by Pelosi.

With an eye to bigger three and four-year-old seasons, Ride The Highs is now likely to be shut down for the remainder of 2025.

LOADED FRIES

In the three-year-old colts and geldings race, Trent Dawson continued his affinity with the division when claiming his fifth Group 1 success as a trainer.

A total of four of those have come in three-year-old Triad Finals.

A strong tempo assisted Dawson's French Fries in overcoming a second line gate.

Dawson was thrilled to finally have some luck go his way in a feature.

TROTTING WRAP

With the pacing action wrapped up, it was the Group 2 three-year-old Final which was the first of three trotting features to complete the night.

Matt Crone secured his biggest training success when Angus Garrard drove confidently aboard Laydownluna to lead throughout.

The performance over the 2138 metre journey smashed the class record held by Lucky Mum.

It was an astute performance by Crone, setting the filly for the Group 2 contest first-up from a spell.

The four and five-year-old trotting feature went to the Graham Dwyer-trained Mcgee.

Mcgee was driven by Layne Dwyer who landed the biggest win of his brief career to date, as he ensured that the gelding did not over-race.

Circling the field from the inside second-line, Layne Dwyer knew he was aboard the best trotter in the race and delivered the perfect result to extend the Albion Park record of the five-year-old to four wins in seven appearances.

It was left to the two-year-old trotting decider to wrap up the huge night of action.

Nathan Dawson and Shaun Grimsey combined with Iconic Image to lead throughout.

With the race favourite, Kicking Horse, stalking Iconic Image throughout, Dawson was able to control the tempo and cruise home for Group 2 success.

Iconic Image is a recent stable acquisition for Grimsey from good friend David Miles in Victoria.