Alleluia staying in Queensland

Immediate plans for exciting four-year-old pacer Alleluia have been set  and the proven big race performer will remain in Queensland and focus on upcoming Redcliffe harness racing features rather than heading to Melbourne for next month’s Australasian Breeders Crown series.

Last season, Alleluia ran a cracking third in the Gr.1 $213,000 final behind Major Crocker and Bling It On at TABCORP Park, Melton.

The four-year-old final this season only carries prizemoney of $50,000 and owner Greg Mitchell has decided to stay local with his pride and joy.

“In a perfect world, I would love to head back and give it another shot following how good he went last year but we must look at the economics of the trip and it just doesn’t make sense to make that trip for that type of money when we have a $30,000 feature this weekend followed by another feature next week worth $50,000.” Mitchell said.

The features which Mitchell is referring to is the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club events scheduled for tomorrow night, the Gr.3 $30,000 Chris Garrard’s Patrons Purse, a race designed for four and five-year-old pacers under mobile conditions and staged over 2280m.

Next week, Alleluia will contest the Gr.2 $50,000 Redcliffe City Gold Cup, a standing start feature which will be staged over the 2613m.

“Our plan is to stay here and contest both Redcliffe features before going for a spell, how long he has off will be judged solely by Grant Dixon – trainer/driver). I don’t think he will have a big break but whether he looks at a race like the Queensland Pacing Championship in October hasn’t really been discussed yet."

“His form is really good and his efforts in the Albion Park features over the past fortnight have been very commendable, with a little bit more luck in both features he could’ve easily picked up both of them."

"If he gets out earlier last week, he would’ve really given Sweet Molly Oshea a shake."

“Drawing the inside gate at Redcliffe is a major advantage and he’s the horse to beat this weekend because of that draw, he’s only had the one start at Redcliffe previously and handled the track really well."

"I believe Majestic Major is the main danger because he’s facing a significant class drop.”

The Dixon stable have a good record in the Patrons Purse winning three times previously (Elzar, Alberto Contador & Supreme Mach) including the past two editions and are heavily represented this year with five starters (Alleluia, Majestic Major, Millwood Liberty, Majestic Mach & Supreme Mach).

Mitchell is hopeful he can draw well in next week’s feature, a race he’s won before.

“We won the Cup with Only The Brave a few years back and he was only a four-year-old just like Alleluia."

"He’s a very good stand start performer and with normal luck, he going to prove very hard to beat.”

Chris Barsby