Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - August 14

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

THE GOOD

With just two horses in a racing preparation, trainer Doug Wilson had a memorable afternoon at Redcliffe last Thursday when both pacers were successful to claim his first winning double.

Four-year-old entire Midnight Somewhere was the first winner, with Alannah Richardson utilising her claim and taking full advantage of barrier one, led off the gate and was never headed.

After securing a steady opening half, Richardson was able to let Midnight Somewhere slide through the third quarter before zipping home in a slick 27.7 second closing split to pull clear to an 11-metre winning margin in a time of 1.58.0.

Building towards that victory after some sectionally impressive performances, it was the second win of the season and just outside the career best winning time he claimed as a three-year-old.

“I had not really had much to do with Alannah or Adam, but I thought maybe we should use a claim so I gave her a chance and boy, she drove them a treat,” Wilson said.

“I’m not sure why she isn’t getting more opportunities, she drove my pair exactly as they should have been driven, they run well for her and she made perfect decisions”.

One race later Press Statement continued his run of top form, finishing over the top of them in the closing stages to record a three metre victory and give the Wilson and Richardson combination the winning double.

Proving to be a consistent performer all season, the gelding has recorded five wins and secured a further seven minor placings for stake earnings approaching $25,000.

Both horses were previously prepared by Shannon Price with Wilson able to spend the time to get the best out of each horse.

“They are very different horses, Midnight is such a little dude, he is Mr Versatile and can win from in front, from the back or do work,” Wilson said.

“I don’t do any fast work with them, I have a sand track that has a hill in it, and they spend plenty of time in the paddock, they really love it.

“Press Statement is a little more one dimensional in that he likes to race up near the front and when he is in the paddock, it gets to three o’clock and he is ready to go back inside, but Midnight would stay in the paddock if you let him."

Retired from driving a gas tanker and spending long hours out on the road, Wilson is enjoying pottering with his horses and the steadier pace of life.

“I enjoy taking my time, I’m retired now, so I’m in no rush to be getting anywhere, just get them fit and keep them happy, however long that takes and Prices have not let me down," he said. 

“Shannon says the price and that’s what I pay, there is no point negotiating because she is a smart businesswoman, but I like buying off her because I know they are well-bred and have had the best care and education."

That has proven to be a winning formula, with the recently retired Bettor Memories also a former Price-owned pacer that Wilson had success with.

That mare is now in foal to the stallion Cattlewash and along with another broodmare, will give Wilson a couple more horses to spend time with, although he may need to find some more hours in the day.

“Two is enough, I’m in no rush and want to look after these two, it is hard enough having them in consecutive races," he said. 

THE QBRED

The fields for this Saturday night’s Group 1 Triad Finals were finalised in the past week with the running of the qualifying heats for the two-year-old and three-year-old pacers of each sex.

The top four on the rankings are guaranteed a start in their respective Finals.

Tuesday at 'The Creek' saw the two-year-olds step out to chase qualification with two heats for fillies and three for the colts and geldings.

A recent addition to the Shane Graham stable, Synchronizer claimed an effortless victory in the first of the fillies heats.

Left in Graham’s care by previous trainer Brad Hewitt, Graham sent the Art Major filly to the front soon after the start and from there was never headed in claiming an effortless victory, with the 1.56.3 rate highlighted by a slippery 27.9 second closing quarter.

Grant Dixon qualified Our Ultimate Fergy and Majorita Jujon by finishing second and third respectively.

The second of the two heats saw victory to Missed Consequences, with trainer and driver Grant Dixon sending the daughter of Ohoka Punter straight to the front to record a 1.6 metre winning margin over Tobefairtoyou for trainer Anna Woodmansey with Reason To Shine for Shannon Price holding third.

Trainer Ron Wells will have his first ever Group 1 runner this Saturday night after his classy gelding Cosmic Flyer held on for a narrow victory in the first of the colts and geldings heats.

Sent to the front by driver Adam Richardson, Cosmic Flyer was still a little green in the run to the judge, shifting up the track, but was able to hold out the Dixon trained Gem Punter Pete.

The second heat for the ‘boys’ saw Attachment, a son of three-time Queensland broodmare of the year, Washington Lass progress to the Final when leading throughout.

Trained by Chantal Turpin, the gelding will be looking to emulate the deeds of his brothers Big Wheels and Awaywego who are both previous winners of the two-year-old Triad Final.

Rockon Rocky hit the line strongly to force his way into the final and give trainer Melissa Gillies just her second Group 1 starter.

In the last of the three heats, Bronski Zulu was the most impressive of the three heat winners, scoring by over 14 metres and running the quickest time, stopping the clock in a career best 1.54.7 rate over the Dixon-trained Blackjack Crippa.

Friday night saw a pair of heats for each sex of the three-year-olds with the top four from each heat progressing to the Final on QStars night.

The three-year-old fillies were the first decided and Mullum Ruby was able to overcome the second line with a narrow victory for trainer Daren Garrard and driver Angus Garrard.

San Marea was game in holding on for second, with Fraya and True Origins also through by finishing third and fourth.

The second of the fillies heats looked an open contest where the Peter Greig-trained and Leonard Cain-driven Miki Magic sprinted had down the stretch to claim a four metre margin.

Grant Dixon ensured a three-pronged attack for the Final with Saint Jujon charging home for second, with Miss Bay King Cole and Brookfields Beauty filling the last two spots.

Hold Onto Ya Bling signalled that he will be a force in the Final after dominating the first of the colts and geldings heats, never bothered in front when running a smart last half of 55.4 seconds at the end of the 2138 metre journey.

The Tax Cullector and Reds Star Deal filled the minor placings to gain entry to the Final, with Jonah Hutchinson sneaking his gelding Odins Black Crows through by finishing fourth.

Driver Mathew Neilson claimed a driving double to annex both heats, with Apollo Dreamz giving his rivals a pacing lesson by claiming a 28 metre victory.

Trained by Mark Dux, Apollo Dreamz finished third in the inaugural The Hayden and with the right barrier will be a force in the Final.

Sir Boston finished second to qualify for the Final, giving breeder, owner, trainer and driver Rhett Markey a shot a Group 1 glory, with Five Star Gem and Captain Foxtrot the other two runners through to progress to the Final.

THE WILDCARD

It was a successful week for trainer Warren Hinze, claiming four winners for the week with two pacers he owns and trains.

Our Dolly and Underthekilt both claimed a pair of wins at Redcliffe for the week, with both also winning at The Triangle on Sunday night, to provide Hinze with a unique achievement.

Giving Hinze a winning double on the night, it was the third time this season that both pacers have been successful at the same meeting, having previously achieved the feat at Kilcoy and Marburg.

After Our Dolly was a tough winner early in the week at Monday’s Redcliffe meeting, Underthekilt was able to score at Thursday’s meeting when darting through on the passing lane to score.

With both pacers then entered for the Sunday evening fixture at Redcliffe, both were chasing successive wins with Hinze engaging the services of Queensland’s leading driver Nathan Dawson to partner his pair.

Our Dolly was the first of the pair onto the track and like her win earlier in the week, the five-year-old mare proved too tough for her opponents to sit parked and take the win.

One race later and despite drawing wide on the front line, Dawson sent Underhtekilt to the front and controlling the speed, pulled clear to claim a big victory with over 24 metres back to the second placed runner.

Making it four wins for the week saw Hinze move to 17 winners for the season, the best term on record for the former fireman, with the numbers also backed by an impressive strike rate of 14 per cent for his five horse team.

THE MILESTONE

Trainer Graham Dwyer reached another milestone in his training career on Saturday night when securing his 700^th training victory.

Chasing a fourth successive season of 100 training wins, it proved to be a good end to the week for Dwyer, with a double on Friday night followed by the milestone winner at Saturday’s metropolitan fixture.

Maintaining a perfect record with a relative newcomer to the stable on Friday, Major Icon was sent forward from gate seven to lead the field as a well-supported odds-on favourite.

Once finding the front, the three-year-old was never in danger as Nathan Dawson guided the gelding to an effortless victory in a 1.55.2 mile.

Later in the evening, Dwyer took his career tally to 699 wins with Our Action Man claiming a strong victory after sitting parked throughout and setting a new personal best of 1.52.9 with the victory.

It was the gelding’s eighth victory since joining Dwyer’s stable earlier in the season and leads the stable for number of wins for the term, while sitting third in stake earnings behind Surf Ace and Despondent.

Angus Garrard took the reins aboard Our Action Man and was again booked by Dwyer to take the drive aboard Luxury Lad on Saturday night, with the pair dictating in front.

Tackling a second division qualifying pace, Garrard made full use of barrier one to lead from the start and controlled the tempo to hold off a fast-finishing Mister Reactor.

The win saw Dwyer reach 700 career training wins, with the victory made that little bit sweeter as the six-year-old is owned by Dwyers wife, Marty.

It was a double milestone celebration as the win was also the 100^th driving victory in 2023 for Angus Garrard, reaching the century for the fourth successive season.

In reaching the century, Garrard becomes the third drive to triple figures in Queensland for the year behind Nathan Dawson and Pete McMullen.

The win keeps Garrard in third place with a 13 win buffer over fourth placed Grant Dixon in the state driver’s premiership.

THIS WEEK

The highlight of the week will come this Saturday night at 'The Creek' with QStars night, with all races exclusive for QBRED performers.

Four Group 1 events will be held with the running of the Triad Finals for the two-year-old and three-year-old pacers for each sex.

Complementing the juveniles will be the Triad Finals held at Listed level for the four-year-olds with the Eureka-bound Speak The Truth contesting the entires and geldings division as a key lead-up to his Menangle mission.

There will also be $50,000 mixed sex trotting finals for both the two and three-year-olds.

Racing will continue at the Brisbane Show throughout the week, while Redcliffe will host two meetings in their traditional timeslot of Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.