Dashman's harness examination - January 5

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

PREMIERSHIP WINNERS CROWNED

The 2025 premiership champions were decided prior to the last meeting of the season on Wednesday at Redcliffe.

There was a clear margin in each category.

Grant Dixon won the state and metropolitan training titles with 273 and 79 wins in each division, respectively.

The heroics of Leap To Fame helped the stable exceed $5 million in earnings for the first time in a season. 

Nathan Dawson prevailed in the state driver’s title with 266 wins for the year,

He reclaimed the mantle as leading driver in the state from Pete McMullen with his third title.

However, it was McMullen that reigned supreme at metropolitan level. 

McMullen landed the title with 81 wins as he broke the record he set last season when steering home 75 winners.

Angus Garrard completed his last season in the concession ranks with another year atop the leaderboard.

Garrard's 187 wins also set a new personal best result in a season.

Overall, there were 10 centurions with Dixon (273), Chantal Turpin (166) and Graham Dwyer (123) reaching triple figures in the training ranks.

There were seven drivers who hit 100 wins for the season: Dawson (266), McMullen (218), Garrard (187), Dixon (158), Brendan Barnes (123), Layne Dwyer (123) and Adam Sanderson (100).

LAYNE FAREWELLS CLAIM IN STYLE

Finishing second in the concession driver’s premiership and sixth in the state title for 2025, Layne Dwyer heralded the new season with an impressive performance on Saturday night.

Securing the first metropolitan treble of his career, Dwyer has now outdriven his concession claim.

He surpassed 250 career wins with Saturday’s success.

Bronski Zulu was back to winning form.

The Donny Smith-trained Group 1-winning pacer was sent to the front in the opening race of the night with Dwyer dictating terms.

An opening half of 59.3 seconds was steady going for the five-year-old and a 54.4 second closing half put the race out of reach for the chasing pack.

It was soon a race-to-race double for Dwyer who again dictated from the front, this time aboard Hot And Treacherous.

The gelding scored victory in the newly programmed junior free for all.

The John Livingstone-trained eight-year-old stopped the clock in 1.50.9, setting a new career-best with a 20^th lifetime victory.

Continuing his great affinity with the Donny Smith-trained Cheerstolou, Dwyer secured his first metro treble with an effortless win aboard the six-year-old.

Cheerstolou is now a winner of six from seven since arriving in Queensland with Dwyer behind the gelding at every start.

TEAM FINNIS ON THE BOARD

Following their recent relocation to Queensland, the Alyce and Jayson Finnis stable have wasted little time in claiming success.

They secured their first winner at Albion Park on Friday night.

Unplaced with their first two starters Louise Luck and Art Jester, it was the pairs third starter, nine-year-old mare Ona Merry Dance, who provided the breakthrough.

Appearing to peak on her run turning for home, Ona Merry Dance was able to climb of the canvas and post a half-head victory with Jayson in the bike.

Sent to the front soon after the start, a steady first quarter followed by a second quarter of 33.6 seconds. 

That helped pinch the race in the closing stages as the veteran dug deep to hold off the fast-finishing Three Machs.

Departing South Australia with feature race success with their stable star Always Dancing, an early winner from their new Queensland stable will help ease the nerves as they adjust to life in the Sunshine State.

SATURDAY SNIPPETS

Leap To Fame stamped his ticket for another trip south following another commanding Albion Park victory.

Leap To Fame is likely to start in the Shepparton Gold Cup on January 17 where a clash with Swayzee and Kingman beckons.

Ambling to the front soon after the start, the now seven-year-old was clinical in victory, running his last 800 metres in 53.54 seconds to take his record to 61 wins from 78 starts.

A Perfect Dance is no longer a bridesmaid.

A Perfect Dance finally broke through for victory in a mare’s qualifier at her 27^th attempt.

The mare is trained by Jack Butler and was driven by Nathan Rothwell who part-owns the mare alongside twin brother Will, with the 1.53.1 victory a new personal best. 

Grant Dixon claimed training honours on the night with a winning treble.

The stable has landed a dozen metropolitan winners in the past three Saturday night fixtures.

Get Used To It made it back-to-back wins with success in the last race of the night for trainer Darren Weeks and driver Angus Garrard.

The seven-year-old trotter has been in great form this campaign since resuming from a spell back in September.

THIS WEEK

The first full week of the new season will bring five meetings in Queensland, with three from Albion Park and two from Redcliffe.

There will be 10 races decided at Albion Park on Tuesday which will be complemented by a Friday afternoon fixture and the Saturday metropolitan meeting.

Redcliffe host nine races on Wednesday night followed by a Thursday afternoon meeting.