Call To Order in dramatic protest win in The Hayden

Four year old gelding Call To Order (American Ideal) has taken out this year’s $216,000 Group 2 Hayden at Albion Park on Saturday evening in an action packed harness racing event that saw him elevated to win in a protest over Attachment.

The race was billed as a clash between Queensland’s leading stables Grant Dixon who had four runners against Chantal Turpin who had five pacers engaged in the coveted classic. At stake was a slot by Racing Queensland for this year’s Eureka to be staged at Menangle in early September.

The race was on from the start. Attachment showed dazzling early speed to head off stablemate Dele Row with the only filly Cool and Classy settling three back on the rails. Grant Dixon who decided to drive Charge Ahead went around the field early to race outside Attachment. Call to Order from his second row draw was four back on the rails and under lock and key.

Attachment always seemed to be travelling better than Dele Row and driver Peter McMullen looked to have the race in his keeping when he cleared away. However Adam Sanderson driving Call to Order kept going for inside runs and half way down the straight he moved up alongside Attachment.

There wasn’t a great deal of room and although Attachment held on by half a head Sanderson fired in a protest which the stewards subsequently upheld. The stewards deemed that Call To Order had been checked and reversed the placings.

CALL TO ORDER JUN 21 REPLAY

Prior to last night Call To Order had been a useful performer having won eight races and 15 placings from 45 starts but had never won a major race. His Hayden success now lifts his stake earnings to over $170,000 for his owners Kevin and Kay Seymour.

The win capped an amazing training performance by Grant Dixon with his fifth success for the evening.

As indicated Call To Order will represent the Racing Queensland slot for the Eureka and it’s possible that Dixon may well have other runners in the big race.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink