Speech Is Silver stamps himself as a rising star

By Duane Ranger

Heading for an Open class showdown

The Darren Weeks-trained and Kylie Rasmussen-driven Speech Is Silver has issued a big warning to the State’s best open class pacers, following his easy 2.6 metre win in the 10^th event of the evening – the $13,000 Badcock Band 5 Pace.

Queensland’s latest pacing star found himself nicely situated in the one-one, before saying goodbye to his eight opponents at the 300 mark.

His $1 win dividend justified what the TAB and public think of him.

The rising star paced a 1:56.9 mile rate for the 2,138m mobile, with sectionals of 30.7, 29.8, 28.7, and 27.1.

Speech is Silver, who is co-owned by Rasmussen’s mother Cheryl, has now won 12 of his 16 starts including eight from his last nine, and nine from 11 this season – with a bank balance just on $50,000.

He will be a formidable open-class opponent when he takes on two-time Queensland Horse-of-the-Year, Colt Thirty One, his stablemate Lilac Flash, and possibly Hectorjayjay, who pulled up sore after finishing fifth of six in the Open Pace.

Graham returns to claim Saturday’s feature race

After two-and-a-half years, Shane Graham has returned and has driven his first Saturday night winner at Albion Park.

The 37-year-old, who has driven more than 2,500 winners, steered Glenferrie Hood (5) to an all-the-way 1.2 metre victory in the $14,500 AQWA Construction Open Pace.

The 10-year-old Christian Cullen gelding is trained by his father Wayne.

A night earlier, also at Albion Park, Graham reined his first winner back thanks to another lovely drive behind the Charlie Cini-trained Vantori Hanover in race six.

“It’s just so good to be back out there driving again, it’s all I’ve ever done and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” Graham said.

“(Glenferrie Hood) has always been my favourite horse, he’s got such a great constitution.

“Once he gets to the front, especially over the mile, he can be hard to catch.”

Graham last drove Glenferrie Hood to victory at Albion Park on July 4, 2017 - he was trained by Vicki Rasmussen at the time.

Glenferrie Hood has won another 21 races since, taking his record to 46 wins from his 155, placing in 36 others for $536,425 in prize money.

“He felt real strong last night, there were some nice horses running in behind him,” Graham said.

“Dad will probably give him next week off, because he did run a strong second behind Colt Thirty One the week before.

“He usually races three out of four Saturdays in a month, It’s hard to believe he’s rising 11 - he’s still tearing around like he’s five.”

“It’s not going to get any easier for him, but the opposition will always know he’s there, because he’s still so tough - I’m just grateful to be back in the sulky again,” Graham said.

“It’s been a long time between drinks and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”

Heavyweight showdown postponed

The much-anticipated showdown between Blacks A Fake champions Hectorjayjay and Colt Thirty One will have to wait a little bit longer.

Harness enthusiasts have been salivating at the match-up ever since Hectorjayjay was brought out of retirement and commenced trialling with Jack Butler.

Having spent the best part of two years in the paddock after suffering from suspensory ligament problems, the Grand Circuit winner has slowly been winding back the clock and returned to the winners’ circle last month with victory at Albion Park.

There was a hiccup last night, however, as Brendan Barnes raced Hectorjayjay in the one out one back position in the AQWA Constructions Open Pace (1660m) only to finish fifth with the rising 10-year-old failing to run on.

A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be sore in the near fore fetlock joint.

The word coming out of Butler’s stable is it is only a minor setback, with Sky Racing’s Adam Hamilton alleviating concerns on Twitter.

The prospect of Hectorjayjay lining-up against Colt Thirty One, the two-time reigning Queensland horse of the year, remains a salivating prospect but will need to wait for now.

Milestone for Trista Dixon

Mount Tamborine reinswoman Trista Dixon notched up her 299^th and 300^th driving successes in races three and seven last night.

The 31-year-old saluted with the Grant Dixon-trained Sheriff Jujon, and then four races later cracked the 300 behind another pacer trained by her husband – Goddess Jujon.

The duo paid $17 and $3.70, and won by 3.2 and 1.9 metres respectively.

Dixon’s stable employee, Paul Diebert, also drove two winners behind the Denis Smith-trained Northern Muscle and the Donny Smith-trained With The Band is races nine and 11.

The latter was a pick-up drive after Queensland’s leading reinsman, Nathan Dawson, was unable to drive at the meeting.

Diebert’s win behind Northern Muscle in the feature trot – the $13,000 Sky Racing Trotters Discretionary Handicap – was one of the night’s highlights.

Northern Muscle started from the 10m handicap, and then led from the 2000m to hold on and win by 2.5m.

The seven-year-old proved too strong, trotting the 2,647-metre stand in 3:21.9 - mile rate 2:02.3, paying $8.50 to win.

It was the Down Under Muscles gelding’s 22nd win in 78 starts, and he’s now banked almost $110,000 in stakes.