Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - January 29

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

THE GOOD

Having only recently claimed a maiden training victory, Riley Butt had his most successful day in the sport when claiming a winning treble at Redcliffe last Thursday.

Taking just four runners to the track, Butt claimed three winners and also secured the quinella to one of his winners with the fourth runner.

It was a perfect start for the four-year-old Always B Miki gelding The Narcissist, having his first career start and pulling clear to score an effortless victory by over 16 metres.

Defeating the stable mate Pretty Little Liar, The Narcissist is still far from the finished product, but his ability was on display as Angus Garrard nursed the gelding perfectly, and when allowed him to roll, he responded and pulled clear, running a smart 28.5 second last panel to score.

Mac Oreilly provide Butt with his first training victory in November and the four-year-old was back in winning form to provide the second leg of the treble.

Sent to the post as favourite, the Betting Line gelding was angled wide and in a well-timed finish under the guidance of Leonard Cain, the gelding holding off April In Paris which had been tracking Mac Oreilly into the race.

Having just his fourth career start, Mac Oreilly has the impressive record of two wins and one minor placing.

The final leg of the winning treble came courtesy of five-year-old mare Millie Francis who was having her first run of 2024.

Faced with a second line barrier, Leonard Cain had the mare settled in the running line and despite taking some evasive action in the run, was able to produce her at the right time.

Sprinting hard over the closing stages, Millie Francis was able to claim her third career victory from just 14 starts, with all three wins recorded at Redcliffe.

Cain has developed a strong combination with the Butt stable and was at the reins of Pretty Little Liar who had finished second and was in the seat aboard Parama at Albion Park on Tuesday, giving the combination three winners for the week.

Firing the eight-year-old off the arm over the 2138 metre journey, Cain rated the gelding perfectly, holding off a gallant Bombadier Jujon.

After a number of setbacks since setting up their Queensland stables, the famous Butt name looks to be on the right track to further success.

THE BAD

After a strong showing in the Golden Guitar heats at Tamworth, it turned out to be a lean night for Queensland trainers and drivers that headed to the New England region for the big Carnival of Cups meeting.

With Queensland trainers winning three of the five Golden Guitar heats, the prized trophy stayed in New South Wales this year as I Break The Line proved too strong.

The bad luck started three days before the race for the Queenslander's, with Shane Graham’s impressive heat winner, Mossdale Terry, scratched after succumbing to a minor ailment.

Attempting to claim successive victories in the race, Graham Dwyer had a two-pronged attack on the race, with Luvbite the best of the Queensland contingent finishing in third place.

Dwyer’s other runner, Kickatinalongpony, had the coveted gate one starting position but was unable to capitalise after making an error soon after the start.

Ryan Veivers qualified Glenledi Commander after a second-place finish in his heat but could only manage a seventh placing in the feature Final.

Hy Voltage finished fourth in last year’s Tamworth Cup and after starting from inside the second line in this year’s edition, was relying on luck to find open space.

Finding space, the Dwyer-trained pacer sprinted hard in the stretch, claiming a fast-finishing second behind the Jarrod Alchin-trained Missed The Truth.

After dominating the Tamworth carnival in 2023, the Dwyer stable was able to record a win when Mister Quirk was able to arrive in one of the support races, Brendan Barnes taking the drive on the four-year-old that has now won two of four starts since joining the stable.

THE WILDCARD

A recent move by Adam and Alanah Richardson to join the staff of the Jack Butler stable has met with strong success in the infancy of the move.

Last Wednesday at Redcliffe, Adam was able to steer home a winning quartet, three for Butler, and one for Colin Knox aboard Monterey Jack.

Butler also claimed four winners on the night, the three driven by Richardson joined by Euro Beat who was successful with a swooping victory when driven by Nathan Rothwell.

The first winner for the Richardson and Butler combination came with the Redcliffe 2023 Horse of the Year, Torque In Control, the mare securing a perfect run in transit behind the leader before being angled to the outside and finishing strongly over the top to score.

Collect A Dime was having just his second start for Butler, the gelding showing an improved effort to finish strongly and hold off the fast-finishing Yogi.

The last race of the night saw Nortee Nash break maiden ranks, the win even more special for Richardson, having bred the three-year-old from his former handy race mare Bariettas Bliss.

The win also secured connections the $14,000 QBRED first win bonus.

On Friday night, Richardson continued the big week when securing a winning double when claiming the opening two races on the program.

Both winners were trained by wife Alanah, with five-year-old mare Perfect Trend claiming her first Queensland victory, leading throughout in a personal best rate of 1.53.1.

The second leg of the double came aboard Pyrrhic Dancer, who also claimed a career personal best, rating 1.53.3 for the mile when finishing over the top to remain undefeated in all four starts since arriving in the Sunshine State.

Adam wrapped the week with a victory aboard the Gary Gerrard-trained Tactfilly Miracle in the last race at headquarters on Saturday night.

The big week has propelled Richardson into second place in the state drivers premiership and also has him sitting equal fourth on 18 wins in the national title.

THE MILESTONE

It has been a great start to the 2024 season for Angus Garrard who topped off another winning week in the sulky by reaching 700 career winners.

Win 700 came courtesy of impressive first starter, The Narcissist, who broke maiden ranks on debut, racing clear to win by over 17 metres at Redcliffe on Thursday.

With six meetings for the week, Garrard was able to claim a winner at every meeting, starting the week with a smart drive to claim victory aboard the Mat Wright-trained Aunty Frances.

On Tuesday, it was a winning double at Albion Park, the first win an impressive victory to the Matt Crone-trained Defensive Guy.

Allowing the square gaiter to balance up, Garrard put the gelding into attack mode, and the six-year-old responded, running a strong closing 800 metres recorded in 57.3 seconds and posting a winning margin of 10 metres.

The second leg of the double saw Yankee C J charge through along the passing lane, grabbing victory in the last stride.

Wednesday night he guided Magic Nitro to victory and Friday, it was the Shane Fraser-trained Eaglespride that moved Garrard to 701 for his career.

Bangkok Deejay claimed Saturday night success for the Fraser and Garrard combination, the five-year-old powering home off speed to record a new personal best of 1.51.5.

With seven winners for the week, Garrard now leads the Queensland and national driver’s premierships, holding a one-win lead over Jack Laugher in the national race and four over Adm Richardson in the state title.

THIS WEEK

Monday will see the start of seven straight days of harness racing in Queensland when Redcliffe host a Monday night fixture.

With seven races on the Monday card, 'The Triangle' will also host the regular Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon events.

Albion Park will chime in with nine races Tuesday afternoon along with a Friday night fixture before the Saturday night metropolitan program.

The seventh meeting for the week will come from Marburg as they host their only meeting for February.

On Saturday night at Melton, the 2024 Grand Circuit commences with the running of the A G Hunter Cup and the Queensland star Leap To Fame will be looking to add another picket to an impressive streak.