Queensland harness racing wrap

THE GOOD

Two-year-old trotter Susan Is Her Name (Sebastian K) claimed Group 1 success at Melton on Saturday night (Nov. 19) taking out the Breeders Crown Final for Trotting Fillies.

Previously trained by Chantal Turpin, the talented square-gaiter was sent to the leading stable of Emma Stewart after remaining undefeated in two starts in Queensland.

Owner and breeder Bruce Wyborn sent the filly to Victoria, with the aim of targeting some of the rich features on offer to trotters.

Successful at her first start for Stewart at Maryborough, Susan Is Her Name tasted defeat for the first time at her fourth career outing when finishing second to Rockinwithattitude in the Group 2 Tatlow Stakes.

Settled near the rear in that contest, the filly was charging home over the closing stages to be beaten by the barest possible margin of a short half head.

With the Group 1 Redwood Classic the next target, Susan Is Her Name would again finish in the minor placings when third after starting as the favourite.

The Breeders Crown was the next target where the filly would again finish in the minor money, again it was Rockinwithattitude that had her measure, this time the margin was a head.

Progressing to the Final, Susan Is Her Name had to overcome gate 10 – three out on the second line – for the $100,000 Group 1.

Settling back in the pack as Rockinwithattitude worked to the front for driver Jayden Barker, the Brad Williamson-driven Aroha Kenny moved up and an early speed battle ensued, with an opening quarter of 42.9 seconds.

To put into perspective, that was the second fastest lead time of the night, 0.4 slower than the quickest set by Ripp in the three-year-old pacers colts and geldings Final, which was won by Captain Ravishing and 2.9 seconds quicker than the 45.8 set by Tough Tilly in the four-year-old pacing mares Final won by Ladies In Red.

With the speed on throughout, Mark Pitt made his move at the right time and cruised on by to turn the tables on Rockinwithattitude as Susan Is Her Name pulled clear to claim Group 1 glory with a 7.5 metre winning margin.

“There was a lot of speed early with a fast lead time, at that point it was made up that we had to drive her with one run,” Pitt told Sky Racing’s Brittany Graham post-race.

“She’s been runner-up in a few of the nice races, so you know that was well-deserved by her.”

Susan Is her Name is from the mare Hands Of A Star and now has the record of four wins and three minor placings in seven starts.

For Wyborn, the decision to send Susan Is her Name to Chantal and Pete has proved a master-stroke and he now has the Group 1 trophy to prove it.

THE BAD

Sadly, Queensland harness racing farewelled one of its own last week, when Max Towns passed away at the age of 85.

Towns prepared his last runner and winner last season.

The win of Newmerella Ladykay proving to be a real family affair when she was successful at Albion Park on March 22, 2021.

Owned by Towns’ son Brett, the mare was bred by the father-son combination and driven to victory by Trent Dawson, who is married to Brett’s daughter Crystal.

That win would also be a personal best for Newmerella Ladykay, with the 1.55.4 victory the best of her 10 career wins.

Training and owning plenty of good performers over the years, the list includes Delectable Dolly, Peppermint Pattie, Valley Of Stone and Kid Gallahad.

Towns also prepared the talented stallion Goanna, the winner of the 1995 Breeders Classic, while he also had good success with the ‘give away’ pacer Take Seven.

Gifted to Towns by Kevin and Kay Seymour following three victories for previous trainer Grant Dixon, Take Seven went on to win another nine races for Towns.

Battling ill health in later years, records may show that Max Towns trained 608 winners, however that number would be much higher, with records prior to 1982 not readily available.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Max Towns will be held at the Marburg Showgrounds on Wednesday November 30 from 10am.

THE MILESTONE

Taleah McMullen is the latest Queensland driver to breakthrough for a century of driving wins this season, becoming the ninth driver to do so.

The youngest of the four McMullen siblings, Taleah reached triple figures when leading throughout aboard Im A Classy Girl for trainer and father John McMullen.

It is the second time that Taleah has reached the century after claiming 110 wins in the 2019-20 Season, a tally that stretched to 140 when that season was extended to December 31 to accommodate the racing season changing to the calendar year.

With six weeks remaining in the current season, McMullen is striking at a career high 16% with her chance to eclipse her previous benchmark likely to come down to the wire.

No matter the number that Taleah can reach this season, it has been a season of grit and determination after spending a six week period on the sidelines after a bad race fall at Redcliffe in late March.

Despite the injuries sustained in that fall, at just her second meeting back in the bike, McMullen landed a wining quartet from six drives.

Marburg hosting extra meetings this year owing to the flooding has also helped the McMullen tally, the 21-year-old is currently leading the Marburg Drivers Premiership.

The efforts of Melton Insulted have helped that tally build, the four-year-old mare a five-time winner at Marburg this season, putting forward a strong showing to take out the MPA Horse of the Year title.

All five of those wins, along with another two at Redcliffe, have come when driven by Taleah, the Hurrikane Kingcole mare her leading horse for the term by wins, one ahead of Whata Roller that she has partnered to victory on six occasions.

THE WILDCARD

Landing her first training winner after returning to the sport earlier this season, Joedy Whitaker has broken through with a driving victory.

Driving Williewa Lightning (Armbro Operative) in a heat of the Marburg to Albion Series, Whitaker drove the perfect front-running race around the tight Marburg circuit to claim victory.

The win was her fourth training success for the season, three of those with the seven-year-old Williewa Lightning, with the other victory coming with the two-year-old trotter Panda Fooey.

The win came at her 15 attempt for the season after 14 previous starts in the sulky for the season had netted three minor placings.

Williewa Lightning will now head to the Final at Albion Park this Saturday, November 26, looking for his second success, having claimed the September Marburg to Albion Final, driven to victory on that occasion by Hayden Barnes.

Whitaker will be hoping Lightning can strike twice and claim another Final with the seven-year-old.

If that should happen, it may well be worth following the trainer this week.

Last time Williewa Lightning won, Whitaker secured a training quinella earlier in the week when Panda Fooey won his first race defeating Uwohali.

THIS WEEK

Another week that will see six straight days of harness racing action in the South East, starting on Tuesday at Albion Park and winding up on Sunday night at Redcliffe.

The Creek will host nine races on Tuesday afternoon where last start Forever Gold winner Speed Dating will look to make it three wins in succession.

Friday will be a night meeting, with Saturday’s metropolitan fixture featuring the NR70 Final and Ultimate Tools sponsored events for both the two-year-old and three-year-old pacers.

The night will also feature the Marburg to Albion Final after heats were finalised at Marburg on Sunday, with the winners being Charlevoix, Williewa Lightning and Shereacts.

Redcliffe will host nine races on Wednesday night before racing heads back to The Triangle on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the sixth and final meeting of the week.

That will be a Redcliffe fixture where races will carry a QBRED cash bonus.