Dashman's harness examination - April 22

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

NEW TRACK RECORD FOR GOLDEN SUNSET

No trotter has ever been able to break the 1.54 barrier at Albion Park. Until Saturday.

Golden Sunset continued her hot run of form in 2025, finding the front and keeping the speed on throughout, pulling clear of her rivals and breaking the trotters track record with an emphatic victory.

Purchased by Shawn Grimsey who also puts the polish on the mare, Golden Sunset has been a revelation since joining Shawn and wife Michelle’s Tamborine barn.

In 16 starts for the Grimseys, Golden Sunset has recorded nine wins and been placed on five occasions, while banking over $70,000 in stakes.

Nathan Dawson has been at the reins for seven of those victories, including Saturday’s track record, while Shane Graham and Adam Sanderson have each partnered the mare to one victory apiece.

Working to the front soon after the start and running the opening quarter in 27.7 seconds, a second split in 29.5 for a 57.2 opening half put the writing on the wall that the record would be in danger.

Keeping them running in a 28.4 third panel, the only danger appeared to be Top Of The Moment, however as he went off stride at the 300, it was going to be times and margins.

Closing out in 28.1, Zealous Spur ate into the margin late, however the 1.53.7 was enough to slice 0.8 seconds off the existing record held by Is That A Bid.

In claiming successive victories, Golden Sunset also secured successive records, her win on April 5 establishing a new class record for trotting mares.

Trotting the 2138 metres from the mobile in 1.56.8, the win shaved 0.2 seconds off the mares record for the trip previously held by Funny Face.

Golden Sunset will now head to Menangle for a short at the Macarthur Mile before returning to prepare for the Inter Dominion in July.

DAGGY LAMB TAKES MARBURG GOLD

Matt Elkins is on track to record the best season of his training career, the latest victory of Daggy Lamb also the biggest stakes earning victory he has recorded.

Scoring a tough win in the Marburg Goldstrike Final on Sunday, the victory exceeded his previous highest stakes earning win which came with C K Spur in the 2023 Trotters Marathon.

The curiously named eight-year-old has now provided Elkins with two highlight wins this season, the Goldstrike Final joining his win in a heat of the

Ultimate Drivers Series where the gelding was driven to victory by Dexter Dunn.

Sunday’s victory was a tough effort by Daggy Lamb, forced to sit parked for most of the 2200-metre journey and gripping on for victory following a win in his heat the Sunday prior.

Safely away from the tapes, Elkins moved the gelding forward as Party Changer found the front and opted to hold that position, forcing Daggy Lamb to do the heavy lifting.

Despite the tough run through an opening half of 59.4 seconds, the leader was the first to crack and with 550 metres remaining, Elkins drove to the front and tried to establish a break on his opponents.

The Dayl March-trained and driven Bonnies Cam emerged from the pack and looked set to get past Daggy Lamb in the stretch, however Elkins was able to lift the gelding off the canvas for a half-neck margin.

Another milestone is just around the corner for Elkins, moving to 98 career training wins with the win, alongside his 834 driving victories. 

CONSTELLATIONS CONTENDERS

Feature racing at Wagga on Saturday night saw some likely Constellations contenders in action, with another impressive victory from the talented five-year-old mare Eye Keep Smiling.

The reigning The Golden Girl champion was never in danger, scoring by over seven metres over another pair of mares that are likely to be heading north later in the season, Ever Art and Lux Aeterna.

In the male Riverina Championship Final, it was the David Moran-trained Captain Hammerhead that was too strong for his rivals in claiming a 1.53.5 victory.

The five-year-old is a likely Inter Dominion contender and can boast a victory over Swayzee earlier this season.

In the West, Catch A Wave may have dented the plans of Mister Smartee making a trip to Queensland when Andy Gath’s superstar pacer scored an emphatic victory.

Beside Me was successful at Auckland in the Northern Oaks prelude against a small field and her Australian plans look in place with a potential tilt at The Rising Sun and the Queensland Oaks on the radar.

THIS WEEK

Six race meetings are on the calendar for the week, with meetings Tuesday afternoon, Friday night and Saturday night at Albion Park.

The first two-year-old feature of the year in Queensland will be held on Saturday night with the Garrards Changeover Classic.

Redcliffe will host Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, with the 2025 Trot Rods season commencing this week with the first two heats to be held on Wednesday night.

This week’s heats are for the up to NR40 performers with race one set for an earlier start at 5.13pm on Wednesday.