Dashman's harness examination - December 15

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

GRIMSEY'S NEW BENCHMARK

Golden Sunset bounced back from the disappointment of defeat in the Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship Final by claiming the Trotters Christmas Cup on Saturday night for trainer Shawn Grimsey.

Finishing third in the 2024 edition at just her fifth start for Grimsey, the now eight-year-old has stamped an excellent 12-month period since relocating to the Sunshine State.

Securing 11 wins in 21 starts for the year, the mare has won 14 of 28 since being prepared by Grimsey and wife Michelle.

She has secured several milestones along the way.

Claiming the track record with a 1.53.7 mile in April, she still remains the fastest mare around Albion Park at the mile.

Golden Sunset currently holds four class records for trotting mares at the track, claiming the 2138 metre mobile start with her 1.56.3 performance when securing an Inter Dominion heat win in July.

The classy mare also holds the 2138 metre and 2647 metre standing start records and now sits third in the all-time list of Shawn Grimsey-trained runners.

Teddy Disco and Wicked Style are the top two.

Victory in the Christmas Cup took Grimsey to 36 winners for the season, establishing a new benchmark for the Tamborine-based trainer

The tally betters the 35 winners recorded in 2023.

DIXON GOES TO 150 

Grant Dixon secured his 150^th Australian victory for the year when Real Tin Tin was successful at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.

He is also closing in on 5,500 career driving victories.

Ending the week with victory aboard Leap To Fame, Dixon sits on 152 winners for the season.

He is enjoying his best year since the 2021 season when reaching 168 for the term.

Dixon’s wins have been so prolific.

He put together seasons of 103, 137 and 117 wins in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

They are the only years this century that he has not surpassed 150 winners in a season.

Debuting in the 1988-89 season, Dixon has amassed over 15,000 top three performances, with more than 9,500 placings added to the win tally.

The latest victory for Leap To Fame was also another milestone victory.

The pair combined for a 60^th win, with the six-year-old Hall of Famer becoming the first standardbred from Australasia to surpass $5 million in stake earnings.

With his 2025 campaign likely wrapped up with the Saturday’s Christmas Cup victory, the $1.7 million earned this season gave LTF his third successive $1 million season.

METROPOLITAN TITLES DOWN TO THE WIRE

Nathan Dawson has the state driver’s premiership wrapped up for 2025, which is his third state title.

However, will need two huge nights if he is to also secure the metropolitan title.

Pete McMullen holds a six-win lead in the metropolitan race.

McMullen has surpassed his own state record of 75 with the win of Fernco Nel on Saturday taking his tally to 77 for the year.

In the trainer’s premiership, just two wins separate Grant Dixon and Chantal Turpin with just two meetings remaining.

Boasting a 17-win victory in the 2024 title race, Turpin will need a big finish to the year to claim a fourth successive metropolitan trainers’ premiership.

She currently sits two wins adrift of Grant Dixon.

With each picking up one winner on Saturday night, Leap To Fame took the Dixon stable tally to 70 to maintain the narrow advantage as the win of Fernco Nel took Turpin to 68.

SATURDAY SNIPPETS

It has been a frustrating season for the Donny Smith-trained Bronski Zulu.

On Saturday evening, Bronski Zulu claimed just his second win for 2025 at his 25^th appearance.

A Group 1-winning three-year-old, the gelding has battled minor conditions and bad luck, but showed glimpses of his best on Saturday, leading throughout in a new career best of 1.51.5.

Meanwhile, Wayne and Shane Graham combined to claim the Members Cup with three-year-old gelding Braventreacherous.

Sent hard to find the front, the result was never in doubt, Braventreacherous pulled clear to post a victory over Risk Taker, with Mister Reactor grabbing third.

Windy Hill Tara, the 2023 New South Wales Oaks-winner, recaptured winning form with victory in the open mare’s pace for Nathan Dawson and Jack Butler.

The win was the now five-year-old’s first since joining the Butler stable in September.

Windy Hill Tara had placed twice and produced some luckless efforts in nine previous outings for Butler.

Windy Hill Tara's career stake earnings are now approaching $300,000.

Daren and Angus Garrard combined to score with five-year-old Darin in the seventh race of the night. 

It was the fifth win in 11 starts since the gelding joined their stable.

Taking his season tally to 181, Angus is enjoying his best year in the bike.

Angus surpassed his previous benchmark of 176 set last year and as well as securing the inaugural Ultimate Drivers Championship earlier this year.

THIS WEEK

A lighter week ahead as Christmas approaches with five meetings from Tuesday through Saturday this week.

Albion Park will host nine races on Tuesday afternoon, complemented by a Friday afternoon meeting before the second last metropolitan meeting for the year will be held on Saturday night.

Redcliffe will host nine races on Wednesday night and will once again host a Thursday afternoon meeting.