Queensland harness racing wrap

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

THE GOOD

Lancelot Bromac (Art Major) may have been receiving plenty of attention in the past few weeks, owing to his deeds in reaching 500 career starts.

However, another member of the Stewart Dickson stable was able to claim a record of her own last Thursday at Redcliffe.

Seven-year-old mare Ashlee Nitro (Western Terror), driven by Shane Graham, made full use of the passing lane to dart through along the inside and claim victory in a mile-rate of 1.58.2.

While Lancelot Bromac has excelled at Albion Park with virtually no success at Redcliffe, Ashlee Nitro is almost the polar opposite, with her lustre at it’s brightest on the 833 metre “Triangular” circuit.

Thursday’s win was the 20th success by Ashlee Nitro at Redcliffe, the most by any mare at that track and moves her into equal second for most wins by any horse at The Triangle.

Sitting equal third with Viking Jack on 19 wins prior to Thursday, Ashlee Nitro is now equal on 20 wins with Bud Light, 10 astern of the former Redcliffe specialist of the 1980’s, Glenmore Admiral.

Dickson has trained Ashlee Nitro throughout her career, with her first start at Albion Park in August 2018, finishing eighth on debut in a two-year-old event.

It would be over 12 months later that Ashlee Nitro would claim her first victory, in September 2019, scoring at Albion Park as a four-year-old, leading throughout with Pete McMullen taking the drive.

Two further wins would come in 2019, a second at Albion Park with McMullen driving and then a win on the grass at Kilcoy with Hayden Barnes taking the reins.

Since those first three victories of her career, the next 20 wins from Ashlee Nitro have all been at Redcliffe with McMullen in the bike on two occasions, Angus Garrard two and Nathan Dawson forming a solid relationship with the mare, winning on 15 occasions aboard the mare.

Not only does Dickson train Ashlee Nitro, but he also owns the mare and made the milestone even more significant by owning and training the runner-up, Illbewatching, who was driven by Angus Garrard.

Illbewatching is the year older half-brother to Ashlee Nitro, adding further significance to the victory, providing a rare occurrence where a broodmare has been able to claim a winning quinella.

Ashlee Nitro and Illbewatching are out of Ashlees Gem, who is a daughter of the Group 1-winning mare Ashlees Babe, which is also the dam of recent Albion Park winner Scarlet Babe and 2022 Rising Sun Consolation winner Bettor Isolate.

THE BAD

Five-year-old gelding Slip The Hundy (Lincoln Royal) made his final Australian start a successful one when claiming victory at Albion Park on Saturday night in a slick 1.53.1 mile rate.

With a sale finalised for the gelding, the son of Lincoln Royal will do his future racing in North America, with Narissa McMullen farewelling a pacer that would undoubtedly have made his way through to open company.

Arriving in McMullen’s stables a three time winner in January last year, the gelding was a beaten favourite at his first appearance, however bounced back with wins at his next two starts.

Striking trouble at his next start at Marburg that saw him banished to the trials, the then four-year-old returned from the embargo to win his next three starts in succession, including a huge win wide off the track in 1.51.8, a time which still ranks as his benchmark mile.

Sent for a spell after finishing second to Bettor Isolate in the Rising Sun Consolation, Slip The Hundy resumed in October with another strong victory from the front.

The past three starts for the gelding -which were all victories – have been well spaced and highlighted McMullen’s training prowess, with his October win followed with a win on December 30 before his latest an ultimately final Australian victory.

Sent straight to the front on Saturday night, McMullen, was able to get an easy time early with a 3.4 second lead time followed by a steady 28.9 second opening quarter.

With an opening half of 59.5 seconds, Slip The Hundy was full of running and blitzed his rivals, running home in quarters of 27 flat and 26.7 to stop the clock in a 1.53.1 mile.

The five-year-old departs with the record of 26: 11-2-1, with eight of those wins at Albion Park from his 12 Australian starts.

THE MILESTONE

Trainer Gemma Hewitt only has a small and select team in work, with eight horses having raced in the past week, and on Saturday night had five of those runners entered to compete.

After a minor float incident en route to the track saw the late scratching of Platinum Revolution, the team was reduced to four starters, with Make Mine Memphis, Keayang Marven, Sarah Anne and Jilliby Chambers flying the purple and red stable flag.

It proved to be a successful night, with Hewitt able to claim a training double thanks to wins by Make Mine Memphis and Sarah Anne, with both winners driven by Brendan Barnes.

Having only taken over the training of Sarah Anne this season, the mare was able to claim Saturday night’s open mares event at her third start in the Hewitt stable, charging home down the outside to record a narrow victory.

The winning time of 1.53.2 was a new personal best for the mare, extending her record to 11 wins from 48 starts.

Earlier in the night, arguably the most consistent Saturday night performer in the state, Make Mine Memphis, was able to secure his first win of the season.

It was a brave effort from the seven-year-old after being sent forward from his second line gate to sit outside the leader over the 2138 metre journey.

Runner-up in three of his previous four starts, Make Mine Memphis recorded his 16th career victory and pushed his stake earnings beyond $240,000.

Hewitt last claimed a metropolitan double on December 17 last year, which ironically was the last time Make Mine Memphis was successful.

The win was also provided Barnes with his 50th driving success this season, becoming just the second Queensland driver in 2023 to reach the half-century.

THE WILDCARD

Wednesday night saw the first two heats of the 2023 Trot Rods held at Redcliffe, with the one lap sprint format back for a fourth year.

Heat one was claimed by the Bianca Hooper-trained Flash Freddie (Mr Feelgood), with the seven-year-old having his first start this season.

Making full use of barrier one, driver Leonard Cain drove the gelding hard off the arm and was able to hold the lead into the first turn.

With the Danielle Veivers-driven Bee Gees Best moving across trying to apply pressure to the leader, Cain was able to keep the forward advantage heading toward the home stretch.

Maintaining position, Flash Freddie cruised home to claim his third career victory, stopping the clock in 66.7 seconds with a margin of 5.8 metres over the fast-finishing Heavenly Wisdom, with Bee Gees Best holding on for third.

It was the first training victory this season for Bianca, who has only recently given birth to a baby girl, with the win also brining up 50 training wins in her career.

In an added celebration, the winning photo following the race provided the opportunity for mother and daughter to have their first winning photo to remember the occasion.

The second heat of the series saw Bertils Firefox successful for trainer and driver John Kerr, leading the one wide line before pulling clear to score.

After unplaced runs in heats during the 2021 and 2022 series of the Trot Rods, it was third time lucky for Kerr and Bertils Firefox, with the seven-year-old continuing his good form and claim the 17th win of his career.

Trotter Natty Pagger, driven by Trent Moffat, was able to burrow through to lead from gate one, with Bertils Firefox gaining the position at his wheel as My Girl Blaze dropped down to trail the leader.

Under pressure from the 400 metre mark, Kerr sent Bertils Firefox to the front and was able to maintain his lead to take the victory in a time of 67.9 seconds, 1.3 seconds slower than the opening heat.

A further two heats will be held this Wednesday night, heat three at 5.36pm and heat four at 6pm.

THIS WEEK

Six meetings will be conducted this week in Queensland, with three each from Redcliffe and Albion Park.

A seven-race card will start the week on Monday night at Redcliffe which will complement the Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon fixtures.

The second week of the Trot Rods will be held on Wednesday night, with the regular programme of races one and two set aside for the 947 metre sprint format.

Ten races held on Wednesday night with a further nine on Thursday afternoon from The Triangle.

Owing to the ANZAC Day public holiday on Tuesday and the increased number of thoroughbred fixtures around the country, Tuesday’s Albion Park meeting has been shifted to the night slot, with the first of eight races to be held at 5.25pm.

Friday racing will be an afternoon meeting this week, before the last meeting of the week is held with Saturday nights metropolitan program.

by Darren Clayton, for Racing Queensland