Catch up on the week’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
Mach Da Vinci was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday night, claiming his first Queensland victory since winning the Queensland Cup in November 2021.
And it was Leonard Cain that had the drive, continuing a great association he has developed with the talented pacer.
Arriving for a tilt at the inaugural Rising Sun over 12 months ago, the then four-year-old was prepared by Peter Hanson and finished ninth behind Amazing Dream.
Staying on in Queensland, it would be at his fifth start at The Creek that the son of Mach Three would claim his first victory in the Sunshine State.
It was the start of a rich vein of form for Mach Da Vinci who won six of eight starts that culminated with a winning streak of five victories which included Summer features of the Be Good Johnny Sprint and the Queensland Cup.
Finding the going tough in the 2021 Inter Dominion Series and then competing in races like the Shepparton and Ballarat Cups earlier this year, the decision was made to send the five-year-old back to Queensland and under the care of Shane Graham.
Finishing in the second half of the field in the Wondais Mate and Mr Feelgood, Mach Da Vinci was not beaten far in each of his next two appearances.
Sent out as favourite on Saturday to upset the fairy tale hopes of Golden Girl Jeradas Delight, a suspension to Shane Graham paved the way for Leonard Cain to be handed the reins on Mach Da Vinci (pictured).
Cain had driven Mach Da Vinci on two previous occasions and won both times, when he claimed both of last year’s Albion Park Summer features.
Firing the entire off the arm soon after the start, Mach Da Vinci went through the opening quarters in 28.3 and 29.9 as Colt Thirty One was sent around to sit at his wheel with 1100 metres to travel.
Increasing the tempo down the back stretch with a 27.9 split, Colt Thirty One was feeling the pinch and the rest of the pack appeared to be struggling.
The only threat appeared to be Jeradas Delight, which had the cold sit on Mach Da Vinci.
With Cain sitting comfortably, he let Mach Da Vinci slide as they swung for home and scorched up the stretch in a 26.2 closing split and took the victory in a 1.52.1 rate.
Maintaining his record on the gelding to stretch it to a perfect three from three, Cain and Mach Da Vinci held a three-metre break over a game Jeradas Delight with Sam Is Perfection darting through along the passing lane in a thrilling four-way finish for third.
It was the second this season from 12 starts for Mach Da Vinci and the 18th of his career. It might just be the Art Major entire that puts his name forward to assume the mantle of Queensland’s No.1 free-for-all pacer.
THE BAD
Placing a horse in a claiming race always comes with the risk of a trainer and owner driving home with an empty float.
That was a reality on Friday when Arthur Lowe was claimed out of race 4 at Albion Park, with the veteran likely to head to South Australia to race.
Arthur Lowe, or Arty, as he was affectionately known, was a journeyman. He has raced in four states after he arrived from the South Island of New Zealand in late 2017 with four wins.
Prior to his arrival in Queensland, Arty had Stints with Nathan Turvey in Western Australia, Jess Tubbs in Victoria, and Paul Fitzpatrick in NSW before he joined the Ron Sallis stable in October 2019.
The one constant throughout that journey was Stephen ‘Sooty’ Hunt, the Riverina-based train driver having always kept a share in the pacer.
Hunt has had plenty of success in recent years with horses he owns shares in Queensland and they include the 2018 Derby winner Master Moonlite and this season it has been the likes of Obi One, Cover Girl, Deus Ex and Lamandier.
But it was Arty that was one of his real favourites. The nine-year-old claimed 23 victories with Hunt involved and bowed out with a win (pictured) at his last start on Friday.
“I was so proud of him today and must admit I had a few tears,” Hunt said after learning that Arthur Lowe had been claimed.
It was in Queensland where Arty was most successful, scoring 14 victories for Sallis.
However, the road did have some bumps along the way, losing form through the second half of 2021.
“I think he went 30 unplaced runs at one stage and Ronny said ‘we will give him one more start and retire him’ and he has won 6 since then,” Hunt said.
In total, Arthur Lowe has started 114 times for Sallis and claimed 14 wins and 12 minor placings to have earned $99,534 in prize money.
THE MILESTONE
Gee Up Neddy claimed his 19th career victory in the last race at Albion Park on Saturday night and in the process surpassed two milestones.
The victory took the 11-year-old past $200,000 in career stake earnings, and also beyond $100,000 under trainer Hayden Barnes.
Taking over the training of the gelding in May 2019, Barnes also opted to take a lease on the ownership of the then eight-year-old.
Winless in over 12 months, Barnes broke the drought, when successful on October 4, 2019, with Codi Rauchenberger taking the drive.
In total, Gee Up Neddy has now won nine races for Barnes and placed on a further 15 occasions from a total of 68 starts. Saturday’s $12,125 first-place money pushed his card to $109,165 for Barnes.
Unwanted in betting, the veteran was safely away from the tapes and rolled forward with 2000m left to travel.
Barnes found the front when early leader Im The Commando relinquished the position and once in control, Gee Up Neddy (pictured) was never in danger. He pulled away approaching the home bend and held on for a three-metre win.
Having won over the same journey just four starts prior, Gee Up Neddy started as the outsider of the field, jumping at $71 on TAB.
Through the recent DJA Series, Gee Up Neddy, who normally displays good manners and gait, made uncharacteristic errors in both heat rounds.
Given a light time following the second DJA heat, the gelding lined up on Saturday for the time in five weeks, and started, and trotted, cleanly throughout to claim victory.
With the stake money milestones in the bag for Neddy, the next milestone reached will likely be a personal one for Hayden, needing just three more winners to reach 500 driving wins.
THE WILDCARD
A winning drought that extended beyond two years, 35 race starts and nine trials ended last Tuesday at Albion Park when Just Call Me Molly won the second race.
Trained by Mark Dux, the mare had struggled to show her true ability on race day, an ability that had seen her trot to victory in a career PB of 1.56.8 at Menangle.
The latest victory is the sixth of her career and her second at The Creek.
A game third placing the week prior suggested a win may be imminent for the seven-year-old mare, however, the manners of Just Call Me Molly was such that confidence in a strong showing could never be guaranteed.
Starting her career in Victoria with Kerryn Manning, she was a debut winner as a two-year-old for Manning and her then-owners Merv and Meg Butterworth.
Having raced in Victoria, NSW and SA before he arrived with Dux, the mare had proved to be a source of frustration for every trainer she had been associated with.
With Mathew Neilson taking the reins for Dux at the mare’s past two starts, he had her safely away from the tapes and holding the front running advantage, taking the field through a 61.3 opening half.
With nothing coming to sit outside Just Call Me Molly (pictured), Neilson kept her comfortable in front and dictated the tempo to claim a five-metre victory.
The patience shown by owner Glenn Jones and Dux was rewarded, with the win taking her record to six wins and 15 minor placings from 62 starts, with 41 of those starts for Dux.
Highlighting the patience and frustration to elicit the best out of the mare, she has been to the trials on a further 21 occasions under Dux’s care.
THIS WEEK
Six successive meetings will be held this week, starting with a Monday night fixture from Redcliffe.
Redcliffe will also host the regular Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon programmes.
Tuesday at The Creek will be the reintroduction of the QBRED Triad heats for the two-year-olds.
Horses that qualify will progress to the big Finals on Q Stars night, Saturday, August 20.
Also progressing to the Q Stars night will be three-year-old qualifiers, with the heats to be conducted Friday, August 12.
Racing from The Creek will be rounded out with Saturday’s metropolitan fixture with both a two-year-old and three-year-old race on the programme.
While arguably the highlight of the week will be next Sunday when Garrards Big Dog Brisbane Show Final will be held.
With $15,000 in prizemoney on offer, the racing over the 400-metre oval will be electric.