Dashman's harness look ahead - December 5

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

The last Grand Circuit race of the year on the east coast has arrived, with the Blacks A Fake to be held on Saturday night at Albion Park.

Next Friday at Perth’s Gloucester Park, the last race in the 2025 Grand Circuit calendar will be conducted.

However, regardless of results in either race, Leap To Fame will join Gammalite, Westburn Grant and King Of Swing as three-time champions of the Grand Circuit. 

Saturday shapes as a huge night at Albion Park, with The Great Square, the Forever Gold, an open trotting feature and The Bill Dixon across the 10-race card.

GET ON

Waikaka Magic in race two on Saturday evening. 

Fitter from a tough run last start when drawn gate seven, Pete McMullen has the chance to dictate from the front with this classy three-year-old.

With the main threat locked away, McMullen can control proceedings.

CAN DON UPSET LTF?

Luke McCarthy-trained pacers have denied Leap To Fame success in the Miracle Mile, the Victoria Cup and the New Zealand Cup already this year.

Can the Blacks A Fake be added to that list?

The big factor that will be in Grant Dixon’s favour is that Albion Park has become Leap To Fame’s fortress.

Leap To Fame’s last defeat at the track was recorded in November of 2023.

Drawn inside the second line when finishing fourth that night, LTF has been successful in 23 subsequent appearances at Albion Park, claiming two Inter Dominions, a Sunshine Sprint, a Blacks A Fake and five different track records.

Claiming the Miracle Mile back in March, McCarthy's Don Hugo held off Leap To Fame that night.

But, the McCarthy-trained five-year-old has been unplaced in the three subsequent clashes, two of those at Albion Park during the Inter Dominion carnival.

That defeat came when Don Hugo found the front, parking Leap To Fame in a 1.48.4 mile.

From the barrier draw advantage on Saturday, it seems likely that McCarthy will attempt to adopt similar tactics.

Drawn to follow out Don Hugo at the start, The Janitor might be able to use the draw in a bid to also get ahead of Leap To Fame in the early stages.

The Chantal Turpin-trained four-year-old has shown he his is ready to be a major factor on the Grand Circuit.

Enormous in defeat in last week’s Sunshine Sprint when sitting parked and only narrowly beaten by Hi Manameisfeff, The Janitor could find cover in the run and be a player to knock off the big guns.

Of the remainder of the field, Speak The Truth looks to face a huge task first-up from a spell from gate five.

Redcliffe Cup champion Aroda fares worse from gate six and last week’s sectional star, Birkirkara, will need to take another step again at just his 24^th career start.

ZAHARA CHASING ANOTHER GROUP 1

Potentially the greatest Australian trotter of all-time, Keayang Zahara will make her first appearance in Queensland when the star mare tackles The Great Square.

A winner of 19 races from just 20 starts, with nine of those at Group 1 level, her only defeat came earlier this year at Menangle in a sizzling 1.51.8 mile.

Scoring an effortless win in the VicBred Super Series last start, the brilliant mare has drawn the second line which should be no obstacle. 

It should give her time to work around the field as connections use the trip as a rehearsal for the 2026 Inter Dominion.

Stablemate of Keayang Zahara, Keayang Lavita faces a tricky draw from inside the second line, with driver Lochie Cook likely to be searching for a way off the fence at the earliest opportunity.

A talented mare in her own right, the winner of seven races from just 16 starts made a costly error in the VicBred Final last start. 

Ajay Volstead appears the best local hope of an upset.

The Darren Weeks-trained gelding claimed the Stellar Square when defeating Northern Heights who was brave in defeat after firing up in the run.

DIXON NEEDING LUCK FOR SENTIMENTAL VICTORY

Race two on Saturday night is named after Hall of Fame trainer, the late William Forbes Dixon.

Grant Dixon will prepare four runners chasing a second win in the race named to honour his father.

The race understandably carries much sentimental value to the Dixon family.

In five editions of the race, Grant has one victory with Majorca in 2021, while his wife Trista trained and drove the 2023 winner, Ok Boomer.

Such is the meaning of the race and the synergy, Leap To Fame arrives at the track on race day kitted out in a dress rug from the special event. 

This year Grant will partner with Ruby Rules from barrier 10, while Trista takes the reins on Gem Punter Pete from gate one.

The stable’s other runners are Reds Ablaze (barrier four) for Adam Sanderson while Jack Chapple will take the reins on Betterthan Popsy (barrier seven).

Cheerstolou, who was successful in the Peak of the Creek last week, is likely to start favourite for the 2025 edition, despite facing a potentially awkward draw from inside the second line.

After successive sub 1.50 miles through the heat and decider, the Donny Smith-trained and Layne Dwyer-driven gelding is undefeated in three Albion Park runs.

Waikaka Magic looks the best drawn runner with Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen chasing a third win in the race at its sixth running.

A high class three-year-old, Waikaka Magic missed the Peak of the Creek Final after finishing fifth in his heat behind Reds Ablaze.

Waikaka Magic started from gate seven on that occasion, with the improved barrier a huge advantage.