The sun rises in the North for stars

Racing Queensland Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick’s phone has been running hot. 

Brick is busy fielding inquiries from interstate trainers who have an eye on the rich spoils on offer during the Queensland Constellations encompassing eight Group 1 races and $4 million in prizemoney. 

“There has been certainly a high interest from the southern states and even New Zealand to be part of the Constellations,” Brick said. 

Local champion pacer Leap To Fame heads the array of open class pacers who will target the $355,000 Sunshine Sprint leading up to the $400,000 Blacks A Fake. 

And the queen of Australasian harness racing Ladies In Red appears set to return to the stage where she accounted for the boys in the 2022 The Rising Sun when she lines up in the $150,000 The Golden Girl. 

The Golden Girl is likely to produce a much anticipated re match between Ladies In Red and the exciting New Zealand bred mare Aardies Express who bloused the seven times Group 1 winner in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Mile at Menangle. 

“One of the clashes everyone is looking forward to is The Blacks A Fake where Leap To Fame is hoping to get revenge on his older half-brother Swayzee who beat him in the race two years ago,” he said. 

Brick said all eyes will be on boom NSW four-year-old Extreme Sea who will take on Frankie Ferocious, The Lost Storm and Captains Knock in The Rising Sun. 

“Extreme Sea has been impressive in winning the Regional Championship Finals and it will be fascinating to see how she handles the transition to racing against the best of her age,” he said. 

Southerners will also feature prominently in the three-year-old pacing classics according to Brick. 

“Emma Stewart is bringing up Bay Of Biscay to contest the Derby where he will take on NSW Derby winner Soho Spectre and Minos who was placed in the NSW Derby,” he said. 

“She also has Very Pretty who will contest the Oaks along with Millwood Bliss from the Hewitt stable.” 

Brick indicated there will be a strong Victorian contingent to contest the trotting features. 

“David Miles is bringing up Rockinwithattitude for The Great Square while both Call Me The Breeze and Mufasa Metro are likely to run in the Queensland Trotters Cup,” he said. 

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink