Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - February 13

Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.

THE GOOD

Sumomentsomewhere flew the flag for Queensland at Menangle on Saturday night, winning the third race of the night with a strong front-running performance.

The Shannon Price-trained five-year-old was sent to the front from barrier eight soon after the start by driver Adam Sanderson, where he would remain for the remainder of the flying mile.

Running the field through a 26.7 second opening quarter, Sanderson eased the tempo somewhat but still had the gelding running through a 28.7 second split.

Trying to apply pressure with 600 metres to travel, Always Rockin moved up to the wheel of the leader, however Sumomentsomewhere had plenty of answers, rolling through the third quarter in 27.7 seconds. 

Turning for the long run down the Menangle stretch, Sanderson had the gelding in full control, holding a 7.4 metre margin on the line through a final quarter of 27.3, stopping the clock in a slick 1.50.4 mile-rate.

After five previous attempts to claim a Menangle victory, the big win set a new personal best for Sumomentsomewhere, eclipsing his previous best mile of 1.52.2 set at Albion Park last June.

The win also gave the gelding a rare achievement, having now won races at Melton, Albion Park and Menangle.

Two races later and the Price and Sanderson combination had Van Sank engaged in the Bay Johnny trotters FFA over the mobile 2300 metres.

Settled four back against the markers in the run, Sanderson angled Van Sank off the inside and as the field swung for home, was the widest runner trying to set out after the leader Tough Monarch.

Eating into the margin, Van Sank was unable to reel in the leader, finishing in third place as Tough Monarch claimed his own piece of history with the all-the-way victory.

In claiming his 27^th Menangle victory and the 36^th of his career, Tough Monarch edged towards $600,000 in stake earnings.

The nine-year-old has had a glittering career that also includes the Albion Park 2138 mobile start track record, a record that was set when claiming the 2021 Group 1 Queensland Trotters Cup.

Trained and driven by Rickie Alchin, not only is Tough Monarch the most successful QBRED trotter ever produced, but Saturday’s win elevated him to the outright leader for most wins at New South Wales' premier track.

With two other runners engaged for the night, unfortunately for "Team Raboki" and Price, their night did not finish in the same manner it started.

With Sure Thing Captain and Hold On To Ya Bling competing in the final race of the night over the 2300 metre journey as they continued on a NSW Derby trail, the result soured the evening for the stable.

Starting the $2.50 favourite, Sure Thing Captain was sent around the field passing the winning post the first time before Hold On To Ya Bling then circled to give the stable-mate the one-by-one trail.

With 500 metres to travel, neither runner was travelling well, and both commenced to yield ground and trail the field home, with both subsequently hit with a one trial embargo.

THE BAD

For the Team Teal campaign, Saturday night proved a case of a thorn between four roses during the running of race five.

With four lady drivers engaged in the race all wearing the teal, as the field settled into order it was Narissa McMullen in front with Uncle Chan, Rollyarzzz to her outside for Chloe Butler, Misty Creek in the one-by-one for Lola Weidemann and Betterthan Popsy with Trista Dixon was racing three back on the pegline.

Opting for the trail and positioned behind the leader, Bomb Suit and driver Luke Whittaker were surrounded by teal.

Swinging for home, Uncle Chan was trying to fight off the challengers as Rollyarzzz and Misty Creek both fanned to the outside, while Whittaker aimed up to take the passing lane gap.

Exploding through the gap, Bomb Suit darted through to take the win by 1.7 metres with the four Team Teal runners the next four finishers across the line.

It may have been a miss for the Team Teal campaign, however another $1,200 was added to the total on the night with wins to Trista Dixon, Chloe Butler and Narissa McMullen.

Bomb Suit’s victory provided trainer Jason Carkeet with his second winner of the year from just 10 starters and his first metropolitan winner in over two years.

Carkeet's last winner ‘in-town’ coming with Our Memphis Mac in January 2020.

Despite spoiling the Teal party, it was both a good night and winning week for Whittaker, claiming a metro double after guiding Bonnie Prince Louis to victory earlier in the evening.

After initially settling the Ben Battle-trained pacer in the one-by-one trail, Whittaker sent the in-form five-year-old forward with 1100 metres to travel, taking control of the race over the last lap.

Securing a 28.6 second third quarter, Whittaker put the race out of reach for the chasing pack with a slick 26.9 second closing panel to record the ninth win of his career.

Finishing the week with a 50% winning strike-rate, Whittaker claimed four winners from eight drives, with wins aboard Shadow Minister on Thursday for Ron Sallis and Stormtide for Donny Smith on Friday.

THE WILDCARD

Buoyed by the recent announcements and prize money increases for trotters in Queensland, trainer Mark Rees has been able to secure a talented square gaiter from New Zealand.

Call Me Trouble, a seven-year-old son of Superfast Stuart, will arrive with Rees later this week after a deal was brokered to purchase the gelding.

“We were looking for a potential free-for-all pacer but had been unable to get the right one, and then this guy popped up,” Rees said.

“Russ (Russel Reimer - part-owner) went through his form and at his last start he ran fourth to Majestic Man in a Group race and two starts back was third in a Group 3 at Auckland coming from 10 metres.

“He looks to be good from the tapes which will give us plenty of options when he arrives.”

Call Me Trouble has won 12 races and over $130,000 in his career to date, a total that Rees and his stable clients will be hoping to build upon.

“With the increases to the big races in the winter for the trotters and then the Inter Dominion at the end of the year, we thought it would be worth a shot, he looks to have plenty of speed for a trotter which should suit him here,” Rees added.

The arrival of the gelding will boost the depth of Rees' team and fill the void of recently departed mare Okinawa Beach, who has been sold to North America.

Gwyneth P, who boasts a first-up win over Sure Thing Captain, claimed her second victory since crossing the Tasman for Rees at Redcliffe on Thursday, pulling clear for an effortless 18.9 metre win.

Meanwhile, Madrigal, who is undefeated in two runs since joining the Rees team, is preparing to come back into work after a brief spell following her latest win on January 5.

“I’m really excited by her and I’m hoping she will measure up to the better ones after her two wins," Rees said. 

THE MILESTONE

The good form of trainer Ricky Gordon in 2023 has continued, claiming a metropolitan winner on Saturday night with Fly Cheval.

In super form in recent weeks, it was the third successive victory for the 10-year-old mare when claiming the Changeover Mare’s Qualifying pace.

After starting from gate one, driver Mat Neilson allowed the mare plenty of time to balance and with a lap to travel had been shuffled to four back as the field had settled in single file order.

With the moves starting to come at the 400 metre point, Neilson slid forward on the back of Goalkicker as it was eased to the outside.

Turning for home, Vindicate who had set a slick tempo in front was starting to feel the pinch and as the field fanned for the run to the judge, the race looked wide open.

Neilson was able to work Fly Cheval into open space and once she saw clear air, she sprinted hard and was able to hold off Goldies A Delight to claim the win.

Stopping the clock in a mile-rate of 1.54.8, it set a new career best winning rate for Fly Cheval as she claimed the 15th win of her career, six of those under the care of Gordon since taking over the mare in June of last year.

Currently in third position in the state trainers title with 13 wins, the season has started strongly for Gordon who recorded his best season in over ten years with 43 winners throughout the 2022 term.

THIS WEEK

Five race meetings are scheduled across the next week in Queensland, three from Albion Park and a pair from Redcliffe.

Eight races are on the card for Tuesday at The Creek before a day meeting on Friday before Saturday night’s metropolitan fixture.

Saturday night will be the last meeting for 12 days as a new judges tower and callers box is installed.

Redcliffe have a 10 race card on Wednesday night and another 10 races on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Tims A Trooper will start from barrier three (two with no emergency) in the Chariots A Fire on Saturday night for trainer Grant Dixon.

The week will culminate at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday afternoon with the Queensland Harness Awards.