Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - March 21

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

THE GOOD

Show racing made a return for 2022, with the Ray Bunch Cantor Cup being held at the Warwick Show on Friday evening.

With two heats, Warwick local Dayl March held a strong hand, represented by Bonnies Cam, while both Artful Maid and Our Major Day faced the 20-metre back-mark in each of the heats.

Also based in Warwick, Andrew Millard had three runners for the two heats, with Feeling The Power looking the best of his trio in search of a hometown Show Final.

The first heat went the way of Bonnies Cam for March, defeating the Millard-trained Feeling The Power, with the pair progressing to the final.

In the second heat, Artful Maid was able to overcome the 20-metre handicap to progress to the Cantor Cup Final for the second time in successive years, with the Dallas Wilkins trained Could It Be Me a surprise finalist, finishing 2^nd.

With a strong crowd in attendance producing a great atmosphere, it was a Dayl March-trained quinella in the Final with Bonnies Cam defeating Artful Maid.

A poor start from Bonnies Cam left him at the tail of the field soon after the start and with a strong tempo, the five-year-old had it all ahead of him.

“He was just slowly away, and I had to sit at the back and wait for the right time to take off,” March said.

That time was with just over one lap of the 450-metre oval left to travel with March making his move.

“I had to take off and that meant I was three-wide trying to make ground and we were going quick,” he continued.

“We were skidding around the corners, because it is only a tight little track and it was a fast run final, it was an exciting final to be a part of.”

Fast it was, with a time equating to a 2.04 mile-rate on the tiny oval demonstrating just how quick they were going.

Not only did March train the quinella, Bonnies Cam and Artful Maid are full siblings, both sired by Cammibest out of the mare Bistro Maid, with both owned and bred by Greg Smith.

For Artful Maid it was the second year running that she finished in second placing in the Final, with her run this year coming just one day after finishing second in a TAB event at Marburg.

With the show circuit heading north to Toowoomba this week, Artful Maid and Bonnies Cam will likely bypass the event, however March will be represented.

“That pair will likely miss this week as I think that gets them through, but I will have something else to take up that’s for sure,” he said.

With the Garrard’s Showcase Final again to be held on a big night of racing at Redcliffe as part of the TAB Queensland Constellations, places in the Final will be keenly contested on the show circuit between now and May, looking for a spot in the $22,000 feature to be held on June 17.

THE BAD

After the record-breaking 2021 season, Pete McMullen has again been the pacesetter in 2022, leading the way in the State and National Drivers’ Premiership.

However, a 14-day suspension incurred at Marburg on Sunday, March 13 has opened the door for Nathan Dawson to pounce on the lead.

Four wins adrift of McMullen at the commencement of the suspension on March 15, Dawson was able to bridge the deficit with a winning double on Wednesday at Redcliffe, the first day of McMullen’s time out of the bike.

Adding a win at Marburg on Thursday and then another at Redcliffe on Saturday, the final meeting of the week at Redcliffe saw the cousins sitting equal on 47 wins apiece.

Winless through the first six races of the night, Dawson had one drive left in search of the premiership lead, partnering the Peter Greig-trained Teachers Pet in the last race of the evening.

Taking the mare straight to the front, once in control the race was never in doubt, Dawson guiding the five-year-old mare to a comfortable 11-metre winning margin.

Claiming his 48^th victory of the season, Dawson edged one win clear to start a fresh week atop the state title, while a big fortnight from New South Wales driver Cam Hart has enabled him to take a four-win lead in the national race over Dawson.

With seven race meetings still to be held while McMullen sits on the sideline, Dawson has a plum opportunity to extend a lead by the completion of the first quarter of the season.

THE MILESTONE

Having only taken out his training licence in his late 60s, Charlie Chiang secured a milestone last week, with the avid budgerigar breeder reaching 50 career victories.

It has been a whirlwind ride for the 70-year-old Chiang, the half-century of wins coming almost three years to the day that he claimed his maiden victory.

That first win was with Riverleigh William on March 13, 2019, with win number 50 arriving on March 15, 2022, when Betting Baron scored at Redcliffe last Wednesday night.

Chiang ended the 2021 season with 21 wins for the term, with Tracer Bullet going on a heater over the Christmas-New Year period with five successive victories.

With two of those wins coming in 2022, Tracer Bullet heads the Chiang team for this season by wins, with Joy To All, Patchwork Jet, Barboo and Betting Baron all contributing one apiece to have the Deception Bay trainer sitting with six wins for the season.

It was Betting Baron that was responsible for the milestone moment, with Angus Garrard sending the gelding straight to the front soon after the start and from there was able to cling on for a half-neck victory.

After reaching the half-century on Wednesday night, Chiang added another on Sunday night at Redcliffe when Barboo claimed victory.

Again, it was Angus Garrard with an all-the-way steer aboard the seven-year-old gelding, with Barboo now the most successful horse prepared in Chiang’s career.

The win took Barboo to 14 wins under the guidance of Chiang, moving one clear of Patchwork Jet who has 13 victories for his owner and trainer.

This Wednesday night at Redcliffe, Betting Baron will be lining up for the 100^th time for Chiang, with the full brother to the Group 1 winning filly Jiggle And Jive looking to secure his ninth victory for Chiang and 18^th overall.

THE WILDCARD

John McMullen is enjoying a purple patch to start season 2022, to currently sit in second place in the state trainer’s premiership with 28 wins for the season.

A mainstay of the top 10 in the past decade, McMullen is enjoying his best season start for several years, with the winners coming from 212 starters for a win strike-rate of 13%.

Hitting the board with that strike-rate, the team from Jay Jay Lodge are on target for a 100-win season, the last time they were able to reach the triple figures coming back in season 2011/12 when leading in 112 winners for the term.

Making the most of the meetings at Marburg while Albion Park is out of action, McMullen has prepared the winners of a dozen races in the six meetings held on the 700-metre oval in March.

Five-year-old mare Shesa Pearla has taken advantage of staying ‘close to home’ winning two races at Marburg in the past week.

Backing up from her Sunday victory on March 13, the Julius Caesar mare was again too tough for opponents on March 17 when sitting parked over the 1850-metre journey to score by a head margin.

Melton Insulted is another mare that has appreciated the racing on the tight Marburg circuit, also securing back-to-back victories.

Claiming the QBRED second win bonus on March 10, the Hurrikane Kingcole mare was back in the winner’s circle on Thursday when claiming an all the way win from barrier four.

Owned and bred by George Michael, the filly could not attract a bid at the 2019 Redcliffe Yearling Sale and has now won four races, including both QBRED bonuses and in excess of $25,000 in stakes.

With a return to racing at The Creek still yet to be determined, McMullen is following the saying of making hay while the sun shines.

THIS WEEK

Racing will once again be centred on Redcliffe and Marburg for the coming week, as rectification works continue at Albion Park.

The track resurfacing has been completed and ready to be tested, with the club hosting a trial and work out day on Wednesday, open to any horses that nominate with further information via The Creek.

Redcliffe will host three meetings for the week, with Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday night and Saturday night all from the Peninsula.

Marburg will once again host Thursday and Friday afternoon meetings, the third successive week that the club fills in on the midweek circuit.

Show racing continues again with the Toowoomba Show hosting the heats and final of the Toowoomba Gold Cup on Sunday.