Queensland Constellations begins with a bang

By Darren Clayton

The 2026 Queensland Constellations officially begins this Saturday at Redcliffe.

With five feature races headlined by the Redcliffe Gold Cup on the ten-race card, it promises to be a night stacked with quality harness action.

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Race 4, Greased Lightnin - This four-year-old would have been a force in the Cup, however, will take his place in the consolation. With added fitness from a first up Queensland win, there is a point to prove.

REGAZZO REDEMPTION

The Redcliffe Gold Cup shapes as a classic clash of local strength, proven stand-start performers and one dangerous NSW raider looking to spoil the party.

Piccadilly Pete will be the lone interstate visitor, but he brings form that demands respect. The Dean Atkinson-trained five-year-old went within a whisker of toppling Regazzo Di Tilly in last week’s Flashing Red and has five wins from behind the tapes.

Grant Dixon again looms large as he chases a third successive Gold Cup training success following the wins of Aroda and Free Thinker in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Dixon has opted to drive Path To Greatness from the inside lane off the front mark. The four-year-old has Redcliffe form on his side, having opened his career with successive wins at the track.

Fate Awaits, one of five runners from the stable, has won at his only standing-start attempt and starts from a 10-metre handicap after finishing runner-up in the 2025 Redcliffe Derby.

2022 Redcliffe Derby winner Tims A Trooper will contest a third Gold Cup, with Tyson and Whos Delight completing the quintet from the State’s leading stable.

Speak The Truth, the forgotten force of Queensland pacing. Closing in on $1 million in stakes and boasting Grand Circuit placings, he brings serious big-race credentials.

Nathan Dawson reunites with the seven-year-old, his four drives aboard the gelding producing three wins and an Inter Dominion second placing.

Add Final Deadline to Shannon Price’s hand and Team Raboki could pack the one-two punch.

Resuming following a successful Carnival of Miracles campaign with a standing start win, the four-year-old claimed a blistering win over the mobile mile last week, highlighted by a 53.3 closing half. the Gold Cup has depth everywhere.

Fresh from his Flashing Red win, Regazzo Di Tilly gets his chance at redemption after missing the money in last year’s Cup -the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding standing-start record.

Absent from the Inter Dominion nominations, this is the race that trainer Daren Garrard has earmarked, with Pete McMullen handed the reins this week as Angus Garrard opts for Manila Playboy.

DERBY POWER

Despite an early scratching of the Chantal Turpin trained Move It Lou, the front line of the Derby field is stacked with speed and power.

Unlike the Gold Cup which has just one interstate representative, four visiting trainers will line up in the Derby.

Berocca Bernie fares the best of those for Bern Hewitt, the gelding landing gate two and with early speed to call on, could be the one that finds the front soon after the start.

The amount of early pressure applied will shape the map from there.

Fire And Passion will start from gate four and the QBRED Breeders winner will likely be pressing forward for Grant Dixon, needing to overcome two factors if success is to go the way of the reigning Queensland two-year-old of the year.

The colt has never been to Redcliffe under trial or race conditions, and this will be the first time that he steps out beyond the mile.

Opening favourite when early markets were released, the colt has eased but still sits on the second line behind Berocca Bernie

Nymbal is the query runner, the gelding making his Australian debut after recently join the KerryAnn Morris stable as a one-win performer from New Zealand.

An impressive last start Redcliffe winner, Shankys Shot, draws well for Shannon Price, while New South Wales Derby heat winner, Showmethetanlines is first up since joining the Dixon stable but will need to overcome gate 10.

OPEN OAKS

The Redcliffe Oaks looks wide open despite two early scratchings reducing the field to nine.

Five last-start winners add real depth, while the interstate presence is strong, with five visiting fillies set to line up.

Ripples brings the X-factor, returning from a New Zealand campaign for Luke McCarthy, with Amanda Turnbull booked to drive.

Locally, Stripes carries the Queensland flag from the front line and has earned the nod from Pete McMullen ahead of stablemate Alwaysbjoy, which will be driven by Tom Callaghan.

With form, depth and driver intrigue, the Oaks shapes as one of the most competitive features on the card.

Stand start racing for the purists, redemption stories, stable dominance and interstate ambitions all collide, with Redcliffe set for a fascinating Cup night.