Dashman's harness examination - November 3

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

BIG FAMILY MILESTONE  

The McMullen siblings reached another milestone on Friday at Albion Park, landing on 6,000 combined winners when Pete guided Yes Captain to victory.

The eldest of the McMullen four, Pete, has been the flag bearer for the family, delivering more than 3,000 career wins in the sulky, while also winning a swag of individual milestones along the journey.

Dual Group 1-winning driver Narissa is approaching 1,500 career wins of her own, while Taleah has over 600 wins and Dannielle has surpassed 500.

After bringing up win 6,000 for the family, Pete quickly added another to the tally with his third winner of the night aboard Blue Dragon and Taleah then chimed in driving Gait With Grace to success.

The winners flowed into Saturday night, where Pete was able to land a winning treble on the nine-race card, taking his metropolitan tally to 73, just two wins short of the season record set in 2024.

The 75 wins recorded last season is a Queensland record and with eight metro meetings left in 2025, a new benchmark will likely be set.

LESVOS LAD ARRIVES FOR ANDERSON

There is no mistaking veteran pacer Lesvos Lad in a race.

The ghostly grey is just one of a handful of grey pacers currently in Queensland.

On Sunday night at Redcliffe, the 10-year-old landed his sixth career victory for owner and trainer Jenny Anderson after an inspired drive from Gary Bond.

Winless after 23 race appearances this season, Bond eased the gelding back from a tricky gate in the early stages, settling at the rear.

Slicing between runners searching for shortcuts approaching the 500 metre point, it appeared the gaps were not going to open and turning into the home stretch, Bond had plenty of horse but no track.

When space did open, Lesvos Lad responded and darted through the gap and arrived in time for victory, adding a win to his seven placings so far in 2025.

For the Redcliffe-based Anderson, who only ever tinkers with a few horses at a time, it was her first winner for the season.

Anderson's other three pacers, Last Call, Tenggeri and Sals Last Blast, have been unable to land a breakthrough but have collected 17 placings between them for the term.

VEIVERS STRIKES BIG

Western Arterra provided Ryan Veivers with career training win 500 at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.

Western Arterra was driven to victory by Jordan Topping.

Finding the front early, Topping opted for the trail and then had the speed in the stretch to arrive for victory and make it three successive wins.

It was the seventh win for Western Arterra under the guidance of Veivers and the 17^th in the nine-year-olds career.

Western Arterra is leading the stable this season by wins with five for the term.

Backing up the win of Western Arterra, the stable landed a winning double on Thursday at Redcliffe, taking home two victories from just three starters.

Rocksngems and The Tiger Army both delivered dictating wins and both were partnered by Topping in their respective victories.

A three-year-old purchased from the Grant Dixon stables, Rocksngems has been a consistent money spinner for the Murray family since the change.

Rocksngems has won four and placed in a further four from just 11 starts.

With 22 wins so far this season, the 14% strike-rate is close to a career-high for Veivers, only eclipsed by a 15% return from the extended 2019-20 season.

CONSISTENCY CONTINUES FOR BELFORDS

The mother-and-son team of Debra and Dean Belford continued their consistent season in 2025 with the win of Emmaleen at Redcliffe on Thursday.

Emmaleen is a six-year-old mare that was bred, is owned and trained by Debra.

Dean took the reins, overcoming gate six to claim a fourth win this season and eighth career win by the daughter of Guaranteed.

The win gave Dean his 17th this season, striking at 17%, adding a further 13 placings from just 38 drives for the term.

Scaling back his driving over the past decade, the victory helped Dean eclipse the six winners recorded in the 2023 season for his most wins since the 2011-12 season.

He has driven on less than 50 occasions in each of the past 11 seasons.

For Debra, Emmaleen is now second on stake earnings for horses trained in her career, with only Jenzajet (the dam of Emmaleen) having earned more.

With nine training wins for the season, Debra is enjoying her best season since 2012-13.

The nine wins have come courtesy of Emmaleen (four), Wehavtime (four) and Im Busted (one).

Those nine wins have been accompanied by a further 18 placings from just 57 starts.

THIS WEEK

The racing week will start on Tuesday with the traditional non-TAB meeting at Redcliffe to coincide with the Melbourne Cup and the Redcliffe club’s regular Cup Day function.

A total of four heats of the Cup Day at the Bay series will be held, with the Final to be held on November 12.

With no Tuesday racing at Albion Park, the three meetings for the week from the venue will be across Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Heats for the Sunshine Stars Sales Classic will be held on Friday night for both two-year-old and three-year-old pacers.

Marburg will wrap the week with a Sunday afternoon fixture.