Dawson wins the Australian Drivers Championship

Lighting and thunderstorms ended the Australian Drivers Championship harness racing meeting early in Launceston on Saturday night (Oct. 21).

While the horses were warming up for race five on the eight-race program, the storms descended on the Ladbrokes Racing Centre, with stewards ordering horses that were completing their preliminaries back to the stables.

Just over half an hour later, the meeting was abandoned, with Harness Racing Australia CEO Andrew Kelly confirming the decision was made to declare a winner, given 50% of the meeting was run.

The winner of the series was Queenslands Nathan Dawson, continuing his brilliant season, which sees him lead the 2023 Australian Drivers Championship.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get all the races through, but it was a good privilege to represent Queensland and to do them proud,” said Dawson in his acceptance speech, with the thunder and lightning continuing.

It was the second time the series was held in Launceston, with the series held in 2015 also seeing a Queensland win with Grant Dixon.

Here is how the night unfolded.

Heat 1

Gary Hall Jnr won the last ADC held in Tasmania in 2019, and he was on the board early, driving the Ben Yole-trained Outlaw Joe ($7) to the pacers maiden win.

From barrier one, Hall Jnr had the pacer settled three-back the pylons before the WA driver got the pacer into the clear turning for home to race away to score by 3.6m.

“It wasn’t good early. I ended up one spot further back (than anticipated), but he travelled strong all the way and was hitting the wheels.

“I have always hated the colour green in racing, but I might have to change my mind now,” said Hall Jnr about one of his superstitions when referring to the colour of the wheels in the sulky he used.

Heat 2

Saw the biggest winning margin of the series when Victoria’s Ellen Tormey drove Petrea Bromac ($4.20) to a 30.4m win.

Trained by Kelly Medhurst, the six-year-old Art Major mare raced first over until gaining the one-out one-back position near the 1700m.

Tormey made her move at the 500m, with the mare letting down with a sharp sprint, and was able to win with the earplugs still in.

“She travelled strongly all the way, and when I pulled her out, she crossed them in a heartbeat.

“I have driven this mare before, and she was a handy mare in Victoria, and this was a drop in class, and she has always had the ability,” Tormey said in her post-race interview.

Heat 3

The rain started to get heavy at the Ladbrokes Racing Centre.

Series winner Nathan Dawson secured maximum points with $2.80 favourite Galaxy Dancer.

The A Rocknroll Dance gelding had to work hard early to hold the lead, and from there, he was able to lead all the way to record her third win of the season for Broadmarsh-based trainer Chris Howlett.

“When I was able to hold up, he travelled really well, and I was confident at the top of the straight,” said Dawson post-race.

Heat 4

De Goey ($1.18 fav) resumed from his third placing in the Beautide and started his preparation that will likely include the Tasmanian Derby on Saturday week in the best way possible.

Driven by local representative Mitch Ford, De Goey was kept out of the early speed battle from barrier two to settle one-out and four-back before improving into the race on the three-wide line from the 500m, before being let down four-wide turning for home, where he finished off we a powerful sprint to record a 2.7m win.

“I didn’t really panic when I settled that far back, I just backed his ability as I know he is a nice horse, and he proved that late.

“He has got a pretty good motor this horse, and I’m keen to see what he can do in the future,” said Ford.

Final Points

Nathan Dawson (QLD) 50
Gary Hall Jnr (WA) 43
Ellen Tormey (VIC) 37
Mitch Ford (TAS) 35
Chris Svanosio (VIC) 31
Ryan Hryhorec (SA) 29
Grace Panella (NSW) 27
Josh Gallagher (NSW) 26
Shannon Suvaljko (WA) 26
Shane Graham (QLD) 22
Wayne Hill (SA) 17
Mark Yole (TAS) 13

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing