Dashman's harness examination - March 16

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

GORMAN DROUGHT BREAKER

Anthony Gorman was one of three drivers to break winning droughts during the past week.

He drove Captain Oh Captain to victory at Redcliffe last Thursday.

Lining up aboard the eight-year-old gelding for his father-in-law Ron Wells, Gorman produced the gelding at the right time to arrive in the last strides for victory.

Although limiting his time in the sulky in recent seasons to focus more on the training aspect, Thursday’s win was Gorman’s first driving success in 3,017 days.

Gorman’s last victory was recorded at Albion Park on December 8, 2017, partnering with Circle Line, also for Wells.

Hanging up the silks after the 2018-19 season, Gorman returned to the sulky at Tamworth earlier this year where he finished unplaced with My Ultimate Cossie.

Since that effort, Gorman has sat in the bike on a further three occasions, recording two second placings and a win, all with Captain Oh Captain.

GREG ELKINS DOUBLE

Another chapter to the amazing Greg Elkins comeback story was added at Redcliffe last Thursday when the 68-year-old secured a training double.

Testament to Elkins' fighting spirit, he made an amazing return to training in 2025, ending the season with four wins and 11 placings from 42 starts.

Skylar Bree was his first winner in 2026 before Vincent Time and Pumpkin Pat joined their stablemate with victory at Redcliffe.

It provided Elkins with his first double since returning to the training ranks following his horror accident in 2024.

Vincent Time was sent forward from gate five.

Once able to find the front, Vincent Time was never in danger to record a win in a smart 1.57.7 rate.

Driven by Matt Elkins, Vincent Time is part-owned by Greg Elkins and Peter Medhurst.

Matt Elkins provided Medhurst an added winner for the week when Congo Line scored on Saturday night.

Pumpkin Pat made the most of a drop back in grade.

Pumpkin Pat finished strongly in the closing stages to score in the last race, producing a winning rate of 1.55.3 for driver Taleah McMullen.

Owned by Greg and Justin Elkins, the six-year-old mare started at $41, giving the Elkins clan a memorable day out.

SATURDAY SNIPPETS

Nathan Dawson completed a unique hat-trick on Saturday night, claiming a third successive quartet of victories at metropolitan level.

Extending his lead in the state and metropolitan premierships, Dawson has driven four winners at meetings held on February 28, March 7 and March 14.

On Saturday the winners were, Lux Aeterna for Rickie Alchin, Hector for Mitchell Dawson, Sensationalize for Donny Smith and Iloveacalendargirl for Cristina Monte.

Meanwhile, Taleah McMullen scored an upset victory in the opening race of the night for trainer Wayne Graham when she partnered Thetorque Majority to victory.

Stopping the clock in a rate of 1.52.4. it was the four-year-old’s seventh career victory as she upset the heavily supported favourite Applied with the win.

Jonah Hutchinson made the most of a pick-up drive for Grant Dixon.

Hutchinson charged home in the closing stages with Betterthan Popsy in a knockout win aboard the $31 chance.

THIS WEEK

A total of five meetings is scheduled for Queensland over the next week, three from Albion Park and two from Redcliffe.

There are nine races to be held at Albion Park on Tuesday, complemented by a Friday night meeting before the week is completed with Saturday’s metropolitan fixture.

The highlight of Saturday will be the Lou Cini Memorial, with the annual Team Teal Cup set to be conducted, which is the race held as a female drivers invitation every year.

Redcliffe host a nine-race card on Wednesday night to be followed by a Thursday afternoon fixture.

BALLIN TOPS LEADERBOARD

There is a proverb that one man’s loss is another man’s gain.

For John Ballin, it rang true at Redcliffe last Wednesday when guiding Three Under Par to victory.

The four-year-old he bred, owns and trains started as a $101 chance.

The win was 2,099 days, or five years and nine months, since Ballin last tasted success as a trainer and driver.

That win was recorded by Myrtle Beach in June of 2020.

Finding the position behind the leader Taking Stock, race favourite Mister Freeman was forced to sit outside the leader with the second favourite, Prescott, in the one-by-one trail.

As the field approached the home bend, the race changed complexion with Taking Stock making an error.

Taking Stock checked the two favoured runners and opened a clear passage for Three Under Par.

Pouncing on the advantage, Ballin surged his four-year-old to the front and the pair held on for a narrow victory over Prescott, with Mister Freeman holding third.

Trainer Matthew Clayton felt the frustration of the loss with his three-year-old Taking Stock making the error.

Ballin reaped the gain, with Three Under Par also securing the QBRED first win bonus.

Only ever tinkering with a small number of horses to complement his work at Albion Park, Ballin generally works with horses that he has bred.

Three Under Par is out of the mare Cottonwood Valley, a 12-time winner for Ballin, with his association dating more than 40 years with the breeding of the same family.