Big night out for Trent Wheeler

What a harness racing night out it was for Trent Wheeler on Saturday night (Jan. 28) at Albany, with the 38-year-old saluting in four of the eight races on the card.

Celebrations kicked off in race one when he partnered the Hayden Reeves trained Alexandra Thegreat (Follow The Stars) to victory after leading all the way in the 3YO Westbred maiden over the 2265m. Able to dictate terms, the pair were never in any danger of receiving any speeding fines with a very leisurely first half of 67.7, with the maiden running home in 28.7 with a margin of 4.9m, claiming her maiden win at her 20th start.

ALEXANDRA THEGREAT REPLAY

Wheeler then continued his winning form straight into race two, with The Righteous (Rock N Roll Heaven) starting as the $1.26 favourite for trainer Peter Anderson. After starting from barrier four over the 2265m, Wheeler soon restrained and after settling towards the rear, the pair made their way three wide with just over a lap to go, with the seven-year-old going on to win by 2.9m, his first win in just over 15 months.

Making it three on the trot, Wheeler drove Rockandrollartist (Rock N Roll Heaven) to victory in the third on the card for local trainer, Adrian Shanks. After racing in consistent form in the Great Southern, the four-year-old got one on the board, claiming a 1.3m margin on the line. Rockandrollartist had a 7 month break between April and December due to weather conditions in Albany and life in general, eventually making his way back to trials in December just ahead of the new season.

“It’s hard to keep training in Albany one the rain starts, and I was busy building yards and tracks at my new place,”

“He did lose a month with a paddock injury but is now over that by the looks.” Shanks said.

It was time for Wheeler to give someone else a turn in the winner’s circle, with Lang Inwood and Cody Wallrodt joining forces in race four with Cracka Tinny (Allamerican Ingot) for the win at $34 odds. The seasoned eight-year-old had been racing in great form of late, with a win just two starts back, and after settling one-out-and-two-back, came flashing home to win by a short half head in 2:05:0 over the 2265m trip.

The feature of the night, the ASF Dog Food & Accessories Westbred fillies and mare mile over the 1832m went the way of last start winner Pocketful Of Opals (Foreclosure) for Bianca Ashcroft and Emily Johnson. The $1.45 favourite led all the way over the sprint trip, staving off her rivals to win by 4.1m, giving Ashcroft and Johnson the first leg of their winning double on the night.

Wheeler and Anderson were back in the winner’s circle in race six, with Simply Shaz NZ (American Ideal) getting the outright win on Friday night after dead heating at Pinjarra just 11 days prior. After toughing it out in the breeze for the majority of the race, Wheeler was able to kick away on the turn to pull away with 12.2m margin on the line.

Fleur Du Maquis (Betterthancheddar) overcame the 30m handicap in the stand to take top prize in race seven. Making it two in a row at Albany, she wasn’t the cleanest away from the stand, but quickly made up for it, with Johnson making her way to the breeze to sit outside the leader for the remainder of the 2247m journey to win by a half head in 2:03:2.

Hayden Reeves opened and closed the meeting with a win, with aged maiden Sheza Adda (Rich And Spoilt) finally breaking through at start 21. Driven by Hayden Charles, the pair settled behind the leader over the 2265m, and were able to make full use of the sprint lane in the concluding stages to win by 2.5m in 2:05:5.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA