By Andrew Adermann
Peter McMullen has claimed his first Queensland Drivers Premiership after almost a decade on the podium.
Since the 2009/10 season, the 29-year-old has finished second in the race seven times, along with another two third placings, meaning he has only missed the podium once in the last 10 years.
The wait is now over for McMullen, who secured his deserving premiership with relative ease, notching up 205 victories, along with nearly $1.5 million in stakes.
“It means quite a lot to me, because when you work at it for quite a while but can’t quite get it, it’s a lot more special when you do get there,” McMullen said.
“I just had to keep working hard and wait for the right year and this year was it.
“It would be up there with the highlights of my career, along with winning an Australian Drivers’ Championship but I think this is probably the highlight.”
In what was a stellar year for the eldest of the McMullen siblings, he also claimed a second career Group 1 win behind Big Wheels in the QBRED 2YO Colts and Geldings Final, as well as surpassing 2000 career wins.
“Getting that Group 1 on Big Wheels was obviously amazing but probably my favourite win was taking out the Group 3 Be Good Johnny Sprint with Mattgregor,” McMullen said.
“I just want to thank all of my trainers but especially my wife Chantal and the team at home, because without them I can’t be going to the races every day.”
Nathan Dawson was hot on McMullen’s heels for the majority of the year, finishing in second with 190 wins, 24 ahead of Grant Dixon in third.
Dawson wasn’t without his own silverware come the end of the season, claiming his first Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership with 45 wins from 288 races, and almost $500,000 in stakes.
Despite falling short in the driving ranks, Grant Dixon remains the state’s premier trainer, wrapping up both State and Metropolitan Trainers’ Premierships for a sixth year running.
It also makes it a ninth straight State Premiership for Dixon, who has been nothing short of dominant since taking the reigns from his late father, Bill, at the start of the 2010/11 bseason.
Dixon claimed the state title with 273 wins and nearly $3 million in stakes, which included two Group 1 titles - Jasper in the QBRED Triad for Fillies and Wee Man Trouble in the DJA Trotting Championship.
Chantal Turpin and Jack Butler rounded out the podium, with 120 and 102 wins respectively.
Dixon topped off his astounding season by adding another National Trainers’ Premiership to his cabinet, recording 290 wins – 61 ahead of NSW’s premier trainer, Craig Cross.
Finally, Angus Garrard capped off a remarkable 12 months by taking out the Concession Drivers’ Premiership in his first full season.
Still completing his year 12 studies, Garrard saluted the judge 125 times, with Taleah McMullen and Brendan Barnes behind him on 110 and 95 wins respectively.
Garrard’s century of winners was also enough to secure him sixth spot on the State Drivers’ Premiership.
