Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - October 9

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

THE GOOD

A strong performance from Leap To Fame was enough to convince trainer Grant Dixon and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour to press on for a shot at the Victoria Cup this Saturday night at Melton.

Last seen when enormous in defeat behind Encipher in The Eureka, the star four-year-old flexed his muscle on Saturday night when claiming victory in a small six horse free for all race in effortless fashion.

Allowed to float off the arm in the early stages as Hot And Treacherous worked to the front, Dixon urged Leap To Fame forward with one mile left to travel, taking control, and then cruising home to an easy victory.

With a steady opening half of 59.4 seconds, the tempo increased marginally through a 28.3 second third split, with Larry under a vice like grip in a closing quarter of 27 seconds flat.

The win was the 24^th career victory for Leap To Fame, 17 of those secured at 'The Creek'.

Currently the best pacer in Queensland and arguably the best in the country, it was fitting that the Saturday’s race was named to honour another legend of the sport in Queensland.

There was a huge gathering of family and friends in attendance on Saturday night that saw Leap To Fame secure victory in The Legend - Don Ross Open Pace.

Don Ross Sr was bestowed with Life Membership of the Albion Park Harness Racing Club on Saturday for his dedication over many decades to the sport in Queensland.

Led by Don, the Ross family have been the clerks of the course at tracks throughout the South East since 1986.

Since leading home Village Kid in the 1986 Inter Dominion Final, Don has seen his team of ‘red coats’ grow over the years to include son Donny, grandson Donald and more recently granddaughter Stephanie.

At the end of October, the Ross family will hang up the red coats and spurs, bringing an end to a long involvement with Queensland harness racing.

Dr John Mammino was also presented with Life Membership to the Albion Park Harness Racing Club on Saturday night.

Mammino is a prominent owner a long-time club supporter.

Racing such notable horses over the years as Governor Jujon, Brigadier Jujon, Sargeant Jujon and General Jujon, Mammino also had a race named in his honour on Saturday, even finishing second with his own runner Madamoiselle Jujon in the Dr John Mammino – Jujon Band 5 Mares Pace.

THE BAD

It was a rare Saturday night metropolitan fixture without a winner for Nathan Dawson.

The country’s leading driver managed two second placings for the night.

However, there was still another milestone ticked off in the past week as his incredible season continues.

On Wednesday night at Redcliffe, Dawson moved to 316 wins for the season, eclipsing the previous Queensland season record of 315 recorded by Pete McMullen in the 2021 season.

Moving equal on 315 with McMullen in the third race of the night aboard the Ben Battle-trained Head Noise, Dawson did not have to wait long to move past his cousin.

Driving the favourite Stormtide for trainer Donny Smith in race four, Dawson sat back in the field as a strong tempo was being set in front by Press Statement.

Angling Stormtide wider approaching the home bend, the six-year-old sprinted sharply in the closing stages, pulling clear to score a 5.6 metre victory.

Not content with the winning double, Dawson made it a treble for the night, again partnering with trainer Ben Battle to score in the last race of the night with three-year-old filly Always Idle.

Ending the week on 318 winners, Dawson’s lead in the state premiership has extended to 140 over Pete McMullen sitting on 178.

Such has been the domination in recent years by McMullen and Dawson, third-placed Angus Garrard is 60 wins behind McMullen on 118.

In the national title race, Dawson has again moved his lead beyond 100 wins, with second-placed Gary Hall Jnr on 216, with James Herbertson a further 16 wins adrift, bringing up his 200^th victory for the season on Saturday night at Melton.

The leading driver at Redcliffe in the 2022 season, the past 12 months from Dawson has been immense at 'The Triangle'.

In that time, Dawson has reined home 176 winners, 94 more winners in the same period than second-placed Angus Garrard and 97 more than Leonard Cain, who sits third on that list.

THE WILDCARD

Getoverrover broke maiden ranks at Albion Park last Tuesday for trainer and driver Tim Gillespie with the three-year-old square gaiter also securing the $14,000 QBRED first win bonus with the victory.

The win was the fourth driving success for Gillespie this season, but his first at Albion Park, with the other three all recorded at Redcliffe.

Gillespie’s last Albion Park victory in the sulky was also recorded with a square gaiter, that win recorded in July last year when steering Shegotsass to victory.

Competing in Italy last year in the 2022 World Championship for amateur drivers, Gillespie has also been a regular on the Show circuit this year with Majordoit and Majormiss.

Experienced with both gaits, Gillespie bred Getoverrover from his mare French Theatre, sending the pacing mare to Gotta Go Cullect.

Completing his early educations and then qualifying as a pacer in June last year, the two-year-old was sent for a spell.

Looking more comfortable at a trot when Getoverrover was ready to head back to the trials in March this year, the decision was made to try him in the square gait.

Meeting qualifying requirements, the three-year-old had his first race start on June 20, making an error that saw him banished to the trials.

With a second-up fourth, the gelding has shown steady improvement at each race appearance as a trotter, until stepping out last Tuesday for the eighth time.

Stepping away cleanly from the front mark to lead through the first 200 metres, Gillespie opted for the trail and with one mile left to travel was positioned three back along the inside.

Squeezing into the one-wide line at the 300 metre mark, Gillespie angled wider approaching the home bend as they straightened was the widest runner.

Letting down strongly, Getoverrover finished best to claim a narrow victory over the Darrel Graham-trained and driven Andoverlov which had hit the front at the top of the straight.

THE MILESTONE

Graham Dwyer may still be three wins short of reaching triple figures in his home state, however the win of Luvbite on Tuesday still produced a milestone.

Claiming four winners across the Tamworth Golden Guitar Carnival in January this year added to the 95 wins achieved in Queensland, meant that the win of Luvbite last Tuesday at Albion Park was his 100^th training win of the year.

Driven by son Layne, Luvbite was driven hard in the early stages to hold the lead from gate one over the 2138 metre journey.

Running the first two quarters in 29.7 and 29.2 seconds, Layne increased the tempo down the back through a 28.4 second third split and looked to have plenty to offer as the field swung for the run to the judge.

Cruising to the wire in a 28.2 second closing panel, Luvbite was able to score a comfortable victory of 7.8 metres over Luke John, also trained by Dwyer to reach triple figures with a training quinella.

It was the second training quinella recorded on the day, with one race prior, Richard Hutchinson achieving the feat when Shez Got Bling defeated Shesa Pocketrocket.

The win of Luvbite also gave Dwyer a winning double on the day, with Not As Promised continuing his superb form since joining the Kingslodge Stables.

The three-year-old trotter remains undefeated in five starts in Queensland, with his latest win a smart performance from a 10-metre handicap against some seasoned campaigners.

Both Luvbite and Not As Promised are by the stallion Betting Line, with Dwyer’s double a rare one, scoring a pacing and trotting win by progeny of the same sire.

Claiming victory with Rolled In Gold on Friday took the Queensland winning tally to 97 for Dwyer with his third successive triple figure season now well within reach.

With almost three months remaining this season, the career high 2021 season of 105 wins for Dwyer looks set to be surpassed.

THIS WEEK

With resurfacing works starting following Saturday night’s meeting at Albion Park, Redcliffe will shoulder the racing load this week.

There will be four straight meetings from 'The Triangle', starting with an eight-race card on Monday night.

This will be followed by nine races on Tuesday afternoon, eight on Wednesday night and then a meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Albion Park will be available on Friday afternoon, with the resurfacing works completed and the track ready for a night meeting followed by Saturday’s metropolitan fixture.