By Jordan Gerrans
Gelding Pageantry will be out to continue his winning form on the grass of Kilcoy when harness racing returns to the track this Sunday afternoon.
The Ricky Gordon-trainer pacer was a winner at the club in June last year in his only attempt at the track, scoring by seven lengths in a strong showing.
With Kilcoy hosting their first harness meeting for the year on Sunday, the veteran 10-year-old has been kept in work specifically for the grass assignment.
Gordon and his old stager have been busy on the show circuit this year and the trainer-driver thinks the son of Art Major will appreciate being back on grass.
“He has been kept in work for this meeting,” Gordon said.
“He has won there before and the Kilcoy track suits him.
“Hopefully, he can get the money again.
“Hopefully, the grass track form for him stands up.”
Pageantry was previously trained by Gordon’s partner Lacey Hinze when he last won at Kilcoy before Gordon took on the gelding.
Hinze remains a part-owner.
Pageantry will run in the second of six races, which Gordon believes is an open event on paper with all seven starters having some claims.
Pageantry has been handed the six alley and Gordon says the draw does not matter too much at a track such as Kilcoy, as there is plenty of space compared to the circuits they usually race on.
As well as the six harness races, the club will also host mini-trots events as well as the Kilcoy Gift Sprints for local track and field athletes.
There is expected to be a big crowd in attendance at the track to watch all the different types of action on offer.
The Gordon stable has a massive team of six horses ready for Kilcoy across the program.
The 50-year-old thinks his pacers appreciate the freshen up to Kilcoy from their usual assignments at Albion Park, Redcliffe and Marburg.
“It is a different variety and gets you out of the swing of things of normal dirt tracks,” Gordon said.
“It is a different way of going for the horses, it breaks up their routines.
“Some of the horses like going the other way, it agrees with them.
“It probably takes the speed out of the faster horses and allows the more staying type of horses to have their chance.”
Of his half a dozen chances on Sunday, the Haigslea-based Gordon believes Eagles Response (pictured) is his best winning hope of the lot.
Eagles Response has also drawn six in the opening event.
The mare is on the quick back-up after racing at Redcliffe’s The Triangle on Thursday, where she finished third.
Gordon thinks the style of racing at Kilcoy will suit her, noting she is not a fast horse but she is strong.