Queensland stars on show in Trial

It was scheduled as a basic Tuesday harness racing afternoon trial at Albion Park.

But this workout was littered with stars including two pacers that have been crowned the state’s best over the past four years.

Both free-legged pacer and reigning Queensland Horse of the Year Avonnova and former ace juvenile Majestic Mach were pitted against one another while former Queensland Derby winner Mach Alert also lined up along with Medal Of Honour and Broadway Playboy.

The trial was staged over 1660m.

And Majestic Mach turned back the clock with a stylish front-running display defeating Broadway Playboy by a neck margin with Mach Alert a further 2.5m away in third.

The mile was covered in 1:54.4 with splits of 28.1, 30.8, 28.6 and 27 seconds.

Avonnova finished at the rear of the field after being taken off the gate at the start before starting to wind up at the end of the workout for regular driver Shane Graham.

It was his first public hit-out following his rollercoaster campaign in Perth late last year.

And trainer Ian Gurney was happy with his effort.

“I’m happy with that effort, I wasn’t expecting anything super from him and he desperately needed the hit-out and it was a perfect opportunity to get him out and stretch his legs a little more compared to what we’ve been doing at home in training.” Gurney said.

During his Perth campaign, the Art Major gelding finished a monstrous 4th in the $1.3 Inter Dominion Grand Final at Gloucester Park won by star Victorian pacer Lennytheshark.

At his most recent start on New Year’s Day, Avonnova finished a long last behind Beaudiene Boaz in the Village Kid Sprint in a time of 1:52.9 after racing without cover.

“Within two starts he turned in his best ever performance followed by his worst, that proved to be quite frustrating and I was happy to head home after that and start afresh. I was away for almost three months in the end and I know the horses were happy to get home just like I was in the end.

“The trip was really good for me though and I was able to meet and learn plenty during my time away, both Greg and Skye (Bond) looked after me really well. I’ve been happy with both horses since being home and they’ve been working well but the target is the winter carnival so we’re right on schedule.

“Nova wasn’t really asked to do much and Shane (Graham) was happy with his effort while Mach went really good considering he did plenty of chasing over the latter stages and Darrel (Graham – driver) was really pleased with his work. It was a good start for both boys’.”

Gurney will trial both horses again next week.

by Chris Barsby