Dashman's harness examination - September 22

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

HOT AND TREACHEROUS BREAKS TRACK RECORD

Hot And Treacherous established a new track record for the 2138 metre standing start at The Creek on Tuesday afternoon, justifying his short quote following a pair of impressive performances.

Starting from a 20-metre handicap, Hot And Treacherous was safely into stride when the tapes were released and driver Layne Dwyer pressed on and took control of the race with one mile left to travel.

With the opening two quarters run in 29.4 and 29, it was Free Thinker that was forced to work forward in the running line as Alta Sensation secured the run behind the leader and favourite.

Sliding through a third quarter in 28.1, Dwyer had the seven-year-old comfortable and turning for home had his opponents well covered.

Easing down to the line in a 27.6 closing panel, Hot And Treacherous was able to post a 7.7 metre winning margin over Captains Pick, with early leader Alta Sensation, holding on for third.

With the adjustment for the 20-metre handicap, the rate for the 2138 metre standing start trip was 1.54.8, slicing 0.2 off the previous record held by Turn It Up.

In establishing the new benchmark for the journey, the record became the seventh track record to fall this season at The Creek.

It was the 19^th win for Hot And Treacherous and his fifth at Albion Park, while for Dwyer it was just his first drive aboard the gelding.

ANGUS GARRARD STEAMING TOWARDS 1000

The reigning Ultimate Driver Championship winner, Angus Garrard, is on a fast-track to achieve another first in his career.

Garrard is on target to beat the current record held by Pete McMullen as the fastest driver to 1,000 career wins after adding a Saturday night double to the tally.

With a small book by his standards at the metropolitan meeting, Garrard lined up in just four events for the evening but was able to convert the opportunities into two winners and two minor placings.

With his first drive of the night for the Chantal Turpin stable aboard Ima Queen Bee, ‘The Kid’ had the four-year-old mare in a perfect one-by-one position as Reely Nauti set the tempo in front.

Angling wider in the stretch, Ima Queen Bee let down strongly and swept to the lead to take victory in a new career PB of 1.51.2.

The next drive for Garrard was the Donny Smith trained La Derniere who has been racing consistently since joining the Smith stable. 

Taking control of the race with one lap to travel, Garrard maintained the tempo and pulled clear to score a commanding win and once again a career best was produced by the winner, stopping the clock in 1.51.6.

Darren Weeks prepared each of the next two drives for Garrard, with both finishing in the placings, Soap Opera holding third after a tough run in the open mares event and Get Used To It claiming second in the trot.

Angus is now just six winners from securing win 1000.

DONNY SMITH FIRST TREBLE

Donny Smith thought he may never achieve a treble in his career.

With over 800 career training victories including two at Group 1 level, it seems an anomaly that he has never landed three at the same meeting.

He has been close, as a driver, and as a trainer, but with only a small team in work, Smith very rarely will have the numbers at a single meeting to achieve three winners.

On Saturday night at The Creek, Smith took five horses to the races and on paper it looked his best opportunity to secure a feat which had for so long been elusive.

Of the five runners, three were the starting favourites and the remaining two were the second elect in the market.

Watchmedazzle was claimed for $5,000 from a race in Penrith, a decision which has proven to be an astute option, taking his earnings to over $16,000 for Smith when partnered by Nathan Dawson to victory.

The second winner came from the in-form Rocket City, the five-year-old transformed under Smith’s training program since arriving from Western Australia.

Utilising the claim of Layne Dwyer, Rocket City was never in danger when scoring an emphatic victory, highlighted by a 53.2 closing half from the front.

Completing the treble and this time another driver was at the reins for Smith, as Angus Garrard guided La Derniere to a PB win.

Smith is striking at 19% with his winners this season, with another half-century within reach, having reached at least 50 for a term at the past eight seasons in succession.

THIS WEEK

Five meetings will be held across the week in Queensland, Albion Park the venue for three meetings and Redcliffe to host two.

Eight races are on the docket for Tuesday at The Creek, with a Thursday afternoon and the Saturday metropolitan meeting rounding out the week.

At Redcliffe, there will be nine races on Wednesday night with the second meeting from the Peninsula on Friday night.

Could there be a surprise nomination of Leap To Fame for this Saturday night as the champion prepares for a shot at the Victoria Cup on October 18?