Dashman's harness look ahead - February 27

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

A couple of Queensland trainers will be focusing on New South Wales across the weekend in the hope of qualifying for a pair of Group 1 races to be held at Menangle.

Cheerstolou heads to the Newcastle Mile on Friday night in search of Miracle Mile qualification and Fernco Nel will attack the Paleface Adios Stakes on Saturday chasing a spot in the Chariots Of Fire.

Locally, there will be a nine-race program at Albion Park on Friday, followed by a 10-race metropolitan fixture on Saturday.

FRIDAY FIND

Race four. Barsby. In a race with many tackling the 2138 metre trip for the first time, the Chantal Turpin-trained three-year-old finds the right race to deliver.

SATURDAY SPECIAL

Race five. Hot Rod Harry. The Trent Dawson-trained gelding was a strong second last week in an Ultimate Driver Championship heat. An improved gate should be all the difference.

IT MIGHT BE FOR REAL

The Junior Free For All graded race has produced some exciting contests since its introduction at the start of the season.

This week appears to once again set up an intriguing clash.

The Grant Dixon-trained Whos Delight will start from barrier one following an impressive Queensland debut in last week’s Ultimate Driver Championship.

Drafted by Angus Garrard, the six-year-old had been struggling to display his best prior to departing the South Island and heading to the Sunshine State.

Sent straight to the front by Garrard, the early speed was steady before producing a strong last 1200 metre performance to score. 

Taking benefit from the first-up win, the gelding will need to take another step up in this grade but is well served from the gate.

With some capable pacers to battle, the Trent Dawson-trained and reined For Real Life looms as the main threat.

The year of 2025 was a period For Real Life's connections would like to leave in the rearview mirror.

There were just five race starts for the stallion, producing two wins but countless headaches along the way.

In three runs to date this term, two of those have been chasing behind a horse that no one has managed to get past - Cheerstolou.

For Real Life found sitting parked when resuming a hurdle too high and followed that with a sound third behind Im The Falcon.

Eased off the gate last start, the closing splits were impressive with an individual last 800 metres recorded in 53.66 seconds.

With 17 wins from just 38 starts against his name, Saturday looks like the ideal opportunity to recapture winning form.

GUS ON A TROT

Following his impressive return for what shapes as a busy season ahead, Chantal Turpin’s start square gaiter will have one last Albion Park run before hitting the road.

Targeting the Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on March 15, the seven-year-old will start from outside the second line over the mobile 2138 metre journey.

Starting the campaign with an effortless victory in the Our Overanova Trotters Marathon at 3157 metres and overcoming a 40-metre handicap, the dual Group 1-winner opened at $1.60 for his second-up assignment when the first market was released.

Not As Promised looms as the main threat in the race.

The Graham Dwyer-trained six-year-old was back in winning form with a last start win at the mobile mile.

Ajay Volstead was third behind Not As Promised on that occasion in a race where he was chasing a winning hat-trick of his own.

Part-owner and former metropolitan premiership-winning reinswoman Kylie Rasmussen will take the reins behind Ajay Volstead this week. 

It will be her first race drive in over two years. 

However, they all may be chasing in vain as Gus looks for a fifth successive victory and 17^th career win.

TRUTH BOMB

Speak The Truth will wrap his local preparations before a likely trip south when the seven-year-old contests Saturday night’s open pace.

A winner at his past two appearances, the Shannon Price-trained gelding will attempt to qualify for a second Miracle Mile via next week’s qualifiers at Menangle.

He was third behind Leap To Fame in the 2024 Miracle Mile.

The gelding missed qualifying in 2025 after finishing seventh behind eventual winner Don Hugo.

Runner-up in both starts this season, Speak The Truth chased home potential Mile rival Cheerstolou before winning his next two starts over 2138 metres.

Overcoming wide gates on both occasions for regular driver Adam Sanderson, it will be Nathan Dawson that will be entrusted with the driving duties this week.

Having sat behind the gelding on three previous occasions, Dawson has recorded two wins and a second placing behind Leap To Fame in the 2025 Inter Dominion.

If there is to be any resistance on Saturday, last start winner Tims A Trooper is never out of contention.

The super consistent gelding also boasts a defeat of Speak The Truth on January 17.

Hot And Treacherous could also pose a danger.

The John Livingstone-trained pacer has secured an upgraded barrier, assisting his hopes from gate one.

Tom Callaghan will take the reins aboard Hector for Mitchell Dawson.

While the gelding may be winless since October of 2024, his past two efforts have caught the eye.

Despite the widest gate in the field of six, Speak The Truth can head to the qualifiers with a winning hat-trick against his name.