Dashman's harness look ahead - July 4

Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.

The Queensland Constellations hits full swing when the first round Inter Dominion heats are conducted at Albion Park on Saturday night. 

Alongside the time-honoured series, the fifth running of The Rising Sun will be held. 

A jam-packed night of feature race action beckons, headlined by the champion Leap to Fame. 

GET ON

Albion Park on Saturday night in race 10 - Cool And Classy. 

The filly was solid against the older horses in The Hayden and then last week she did a mountain of work and was game when holding on for third in the Redcliffe Oaks. 

She can bounce back to winning form. 

ID25 PACERS HEAT ONE

By far the most open of the three heats, vital points will be up for grabs with many looking to take advantage of the absence of the two main players for the series.

Shannon Price has a two-pronged attack with Sure Thing Captain and Speak The Truth both lining up in this heat. 

Regular driver Adam Sanderson has opted to partner with Sure Thing Captain. 

That paves the way for talented Sydneysider Cam Hart to pick up the drive on six-year-old Speak The Truth. 

The Victorian-based Jess Tubbs will also have two horses contesting this heat with 2023 Inter Dominion runner-up Better Eclipse starting from barrier one and his stable mate Rakero Rebel from barrier two.

James Herbertson has opted to partner the mare Rakero Rebel, while Josh Gallagher picks up the drive aboard Better Eclipse. 

Positioned in between the Tubbs and Price quartet will be the Chantal Turpin-trained Always Smokin. 

With his recent form through standing start events, a return to mobile conditions should favour Always Smokin who blazed the path in front when setting up the track record time for Free Thinker in last week’s Redcliffe Cup. 

ID25 PACERS HEAT TWO

Defending champion Don Hugo starts his Queensland campaign from barrier 10 in the second heat.

The Luke McCarthy-trained and driven five-year-old comes into the series off the back of two stylish winning performances at Menangle, the latest where he spaced his rivals.

With Don Hugo drawn on the second line, the action could heat up early as horses look to find fence line positions.

That could see Blacksadance pressing forward to find the front, with the Chantal Turpin-trained pacer contesting his third successive Inter Dominion series. 

Jimartee draws ideally in gate one which should allow him to secure a good position on the inside.

The James Rattray-trained Nyack will likely to be punching through behind Jimartee from inside the second line. 

ID25 PACERS HEAT THREE

Barrier eight.

It is probably the worst gate Leap To Fame could have received in his quest to become a two-time Inter Dominion champion. 

How Grant Dixon attacks this race will likely impact several other runners, particularly those drawn on the front line. 

Does he follow through at the start and hope a gap opens or does he retreat to the rear and circle the field at some point? 

Either way, it makes for an intriguing viewing.

However, one thing is certain, Leap To Fame is still the likely winner of this race. 

Wisper A Secret is one horse that potentially could take advantage of the early tactics with the opportunity to press forward and get into the contest early should Leap To Fame be taken to the rear of the field. 

ID25 TROTTERS HEAT ONE

On paper this suggests it would be a two-horse race between London To A Brick and Oscar Bonavena 

From just four starts at Albion Park, London To A Brick is a two-time Group 1-winner and has placed on both other occasions. 

The James Rattray-trained five-year-old gains the barrier advantage from gate three and with early speed looks set to be in a forward position early.

The Purdon family-trained Oscar Bonavena draws the second line and will need some pressure through the middle stages to produce his powerful finishing burst. 

Unable to reel in the leader Zealous Spur last start, Adam Sanderson will again take the reins aboard Oscar Bonavena. 

If there is to be an upset, it could come from the enigmatic Gus.

Gus, at his best, is certainly capable of producing a race winning performance. 

ID25 TROTTERS HEAT TWO

The David and Stacey White-trained Bet N Win has drawn perfectly in gate one, with the five-year-old returning to Brisbane with some unfinished business. 

A classy winner of the 2024 Stellar Square, the gelding went amiss in the week leading up to The Great Square, which had been his main target when crossing the Tasman. 

This trip, as a more seasoned five-year-old, the gelding was flown to Sydney from his New Zealand home and the gelding scored an impressive Menangle victory enroute to Brisbane. 

If there is a threat to Bet N Win, it could be himself, with his gate speed questionable.

The emergency, Thebestbourbon, will start from barrier two and possesses good speed off the arm. 

If that scenario arises, then second favourite Arcee Phoenix could exploit the situation for trainer and driver Chris Svanosio. 

Arcee Phoenix was given a spell before resuming with a Melton victory that was full of class.

Anthony Butt has a Brisbane Inter Dominion trotters win to his name and the champion reinsman will head north to partner Harry Stamper for trainer Joe Pace.