By Josh Bell and Alex Nolan
Fresh off his first TAB winning double with Underthekilt and Wecanonlyhope at Redcliffe, industry veteran Warren Hinze said training his small team helped him “get out of bed in the morning”.
Hinze has prepared 1291 starters across 33 seasons and despite training a modest 59 winners in this time, hasn’t been deterred from doing what he loves.
With four horses in work at present and never more than a handful at one time, the retiree said training gave him something to look forward to each day.
For half his stable to have won on the weekend is quite an accomplishment.
“I don’t get the opportunity to train doubles very often because I don’t usually have many in work at the one time,” he said.
Hinze said training could help financially at times but admitted he never has more than a “loyalty bet” on his runners.
Both Underthekilt and Wecanonlyhope are set to run at Albion Park this weekend.
Hinze said Underthekilt’s chances were “fair” in Friday’s Changeover @ Burwood Stud Pace (10.07pm) after being “drawn horribly” in gate 9.
Wecanonlyhope will also have to come from the second-row, after drawing barrier 12 in the $15,540 Kevin and Kay Seymour Aspirational Pace (Race 8) on Saturday.
Country shackles broken
Matt Elkins outdrove his country claim after driving a treble at Redcliffe on Sunday.
His first winner came aboard KYM’S BOY NZ for his father Greg, before saluting with BOB GAGE for Ron Sallis. The treble was complete when he steered WECANONLYHOPE in the last for Warren Hinze.
Elkins drove his first winner back in December of 2013, aged 17, shortly after he completed his schooling at Rosewood High School.
He has now driven 40 winners this season and currently sits eight on the Queensland Drivers’ Premiership amassing prizemoney of $234,981.
RQ supports junior drivers on Sydney mission
RACING Queensland will help five up-and-coming drivers represent their state in Sydney on Saturday when they contest the ‘Mini Miracle Mile’ on a major Group 1 night at Menangle.
The drivers representing both the Queensland Junior Harness Racing Association (QJHRA) and the Queensland Mini Trotting Sporting Association Inc (QMTSAI) have been given a $200 fuel voucher per-float to help get their ponies to Sydney.
Representing Queensland on the night will be;
- Angus Garrard (QJHRA) – Twebby Twotter
- Layne Dwyer (QJHRA) – Dan Elles Dash
- Bree Evans (QJHRA) – Sparkling Star
- Madison McNee (QJHRA) – Playingbytherules
- Zac Davis (QMTSAI) – Awesome Wind
Another Queensland pony, Alfies Over, will also be floated to Sydney but is to be driven by NSW-based driver Ryan Sanderson.
Harness Newsroom will bring you the results of the meeting next week.
History-making month for Marburg
Racing Queensland’s commercial strategy to convert non-TAB to TAB race meetings where possible has resulted in two TAB meetings being allocated to the Marburg Pacing Association for the first time in the club’s history.
Marburg’s Easter Sunday meeting (1 April 2018) will be a TAB meeting broadcast live on Sky Racing, with the Labour Day Public Holiday meeting (7 May 2018) also allocated TAB status.
READ MORE: http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/news-and-guides/february-2018/marburg-secures-first-tab-meeting-and-new-series-t
A long time coming
Trainer Richard Hutchinson scored his first winner at Albion Park in three-and-a-half-years on Saturday when IM ROLLING STONED took out the Marburg to Albion Park Final.
The win gave Hutchinson his 52nd winner from 866 starters after more than 11 years as a trainer, proving persistence is the key for many in the industry.
IM ROLLING STONED has started 109 times for seven wins and total prizemoney of $28,693.
Hutchinson backed up with the nine-year-old at Albion Park on Tuesday, but ran almost 3 seconds slower when placed fifth.
The filly is engaged in the Kevin and Kay Seymour Aspirational Pace (Race 8) at Albion Park on Saturday, alongside stablemate Diablo Star.
Dixon stable primed for Derby-Oaks double
GRANT Dixon might have one hand on the 2018 NSW Derby (8.20pm) with the exciting Colt Thirty One, but the champion Queensland trainer knows his opponents will be lining up to loosen the grip in Saturday night’s final at Menangle.
Dixon had a night to remember in Sydney after he booked his chance at a second derby victory with Colt Thirty One in the space of a month, before earning a spot in the NSW Oaks (7.17pm) with Fame Assured.
Colt Thirty One was rated a $1.90 chance with UBET after he drew barrier one at Monday’s draw, following a stunning all-the-way win in Heat 3 at the weekend.
Read more here: http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/News-And-Guides/February-2018/Dixon-primed-to-chase-historic-Derby-Oaks-double
#TeamTeal Update
Queensland's female harness drivers have now collectively helped raise $4000 for the 2018 Team Teal Campaign, with funds donated to the Women's Cancer Foundation during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Racing Queensland, UBET, Albion Park HRC and Redcliffe HRC have donated $200 for every winner driven by 23 of Queensland's female drivers, with each wearing teal coloured pants to raise awarness between February 1 and March 11, 2018.
Female drivers across the country are participating in the campaign, which wraps up at Hobart during the first Australian Female Drivers Championship.
Women's Cancer Foundation will be supporting the Australia New Zealand Gynaelogical Oncology Group.