Dashman's harness look ahead - May 1

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

A change to the regular schedule in Queensland starts this week, with Redcliffe becoming the venue for Friday night harness action moving forward.

A 10-race card on Saturday night from Albion Park includes the first two-year-old feature race of the season in Queensland with the running of the Garrards 2YO Classic.

At Menangle, Queensland will be represented by Alwaysbjoy, who contests the New South Wales Oaks, with Amylee and Zeezeezoom listed as the first and second emergency, respectively.

Marburg will host an eight-race card on the Labour Day public holiday this Monday.

FRIDAY FIND

Race five - Fourty One Gee. Returned from a spell with a decisive win from the front and finds another suitable race.

SATURDAY SPECIAL

Race five - Tremendous Sensation. Despite a second line gate, this mare has hit the line strongly in recent starts and looks ready to claim her first win of 2026.

MARBURG MAIL

Race six - Rocktime. Can drive through to lead and from the front will take some catching.

CLASSIC INCOMING 

The first two-year-old feature event in Queensland will be held this Saturday night at Albion Park. 

A total of three of the six runners are last start winners and on exposed form, they appear the main players.

Maywyn Son Of Lou lands the barrier advantage, securing gate one with Trent Dawson to take the reins for trainer Kelli Dawson.

A son of first season sire Dancin Lou, the gelding was successful on debut.

He overcame a wide gate to score a stylish win back on March 24. 

A trial on April 24 is the only appearance that Maywyn Son Of Lou has made in public since his first-up victory.

He tackled older opponents in that trial.

Rocky Hunter was also making his race debut in that same event.

The Graham Dwyer-trained gelding finished third.

Following that with a third and then a fourth, the gelding by Huntsville was successful at Redcliffe on April 14.

Rocky Hunter led throughout and will tackle Saturday night from barrier three with Greg Bennett taking the drive.

The Shane Graham-trained and reined Parisian Hustler opened at the top of the board when the market was released despite starting from the outside of the small field.

Trialing in good order early in the season, the gelding has shown ability and following a first-up second, he impressed with victory at his next start.

That win was on March 3 and with a strong trial performance on April 21, the gelding can convert his ability with a feature victory.

STACKED TROT

Of the 10 highest ranked trotters in Queensland, the only absentee from this Saturday night’s trotting event is Gus.

Set to be held over the mobile mile, the barrier draw has ensured it should be a great contest.

Not As Promised lands gate one for Graham Dwyer with Layne Dwyer to take the reins behind the track record holder.

Placed at his past two starts, Not As Promised was gallant in defeat last start at this same trip when sitting parked.

Golden Sunset, who is a former track record holder, will start from barrier four.

Although yet to find a way to land victory in 2026, the efforts have been consistent from Golden Sunset.

Placed in five of eight for the term, an inside second line gate dented her hopes in her last start when finishing fourth behind Zealous Spur.

A quick beginner, driver Shane Graham will likely press forward when the start car pulls clear of the field.

If driving engagements are the lead to follow, Nathan Dawson taking the drive on Aldebaranstilinski from barrier two is a light flasher.

This will be the first time that the premiership-leading reinsman has opted to drive another runner when Not As Promised has been engaged.

Dawson has stuck with the dual Group 1-winner throughout his career to date.

Zealous Spur has won two of his past three starts, with Grant Dixon replacing regular driver, wife Trista, in the driving seat.

Grant Dixon last drove Zealous Spur in August of 2025.

Hide And Seek has been consistent, Mufasa Metro won two starts back and Ajay Volstead is the talented up-and-comer.

It should be some race.

DASHING THE HUNTER

Following four successive wins, the past three when leading throughout, the Shawn Grimsey-trained Dashing will this week face a different role.

Being hunted as the tempo-setter in those past three wins, this week the five-year-old will be the hunter as the lone runner to start from the second line.

Last week’s dictating win over 2138 metres was emphasized with a 53.5 second closing half and the win two starts back was a slick 1.51.5 victory.

Set to follow out the quick beginner Tiger Band Wagon this week, the map sets up for Dashing to be stalking the speed.

A winner from gate one over the mile five starts back, Tiger Band Wagon was able to dictate on that occasion in a sizzling 1.50.1 mile.

Wide draws have thwarted the hopes of the Matt Elkins-trained gelding in the four runs since that win.

Tims A Trooper is never far from the action but faces a tough ask from barrier six and Jimartee which boasts placings in the past two open events will be running on.