Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - April 11

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

THE GOOD

After both rounds of heats of the Jim McNeil Series were held prior to Albion Park being inundated in late February, the Final was at last able to be held last Friday, April 8.

The race was won by the Grant Dixon trained and driven Regal Appointment, holding off a fast-finishing Riley Moment driven by Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin, with the early leader, the Steven Doherty trained and driven Jansson holding on for third.

Regal Appointment was set for this series, crossing the Tasman after being purchased by Greg Mitchell’s GSM Racing as a two-win trotter from the South Island of New Zealand.

First up in Australia in the first-round heat, the six-year-old was sent to the front by Dixon and was never headed to claim a three-metre margin.

The second-round heat certainly provided some anxious moments, with Regal Appointment galloping off the start and never taking any real part in the race, but the earning of maximum points in the first round was enough to sneak through to the Final.

With the Final delayed owing to the flooding, it allowed Dixon to take the gelding to Redcliffe for two runs and learn more about his racing characteristics, those two runs returning a narrow second placing and a win.

Well-supported for the Final to start as the favourite, he was safely away and soon settled one out and two back as Jansson showed his customary early speed from the tapes.

Once balanced, Dixon sent Regal Appointment forward and turning out of the home straight with just on two laps left to travel, had found the front, and from there led the remainder to claim the Group 3 event.

First held in 2011, the McNeil Final honours the deeds of Jim McNeil and that first edition was taken out by the Elizabeth Birch trained Willy Lightfoot, driven to victory by Bruce Birch and owned by Greg Mitchell.

Mitchell has now won the McNeil Final on three occasions, the other trophy secured when Foursharemorebeers won the 2017 edition, trained and driven by Grant Dixon.

Adding a third McNeil equals Mitchell’s three victories in the Darrel Alexander Memorial as an owner, secured with Our Overanova (twice) and The Dude Abides.

Regal Appointment takes his Australian record to three wins in five starts, the Majestic Son gelding, now likely to be given the opportunity to chase a DJA trophy.

Another Majestic Son gelding, Majestic Simon is the only square gaiter to ever claim the McNeil and DJA Final in the same season, securing that feat back in 2020.

THE BAD

Greg Mitchell may have won the McNeil Final, but there was another race on Friday that he would have dearly liked to have won.

For the first time, the Group 3 Trotters Marathon was run under the new name of the Our Overanova Trotters Marathon, honouring Mitchell’s champion square gaiter.

Mitchell owned Our Overanova, with the gelding going out on a winning note in July 2021, retiring after 203 starts, 64 wins and a further 66 minor placings.

A total of 63 of those wins were for Mitchell, after the gelding arrived in the care of Grant Dixon in 2013, winning 18 of his first 20 starts in Australia, a streak that included the Trotters Marathon and a DJA Final.

Unfortunately for Dixon and Mitchell, they were unable to claim the inaugural edition named in honour of Our Overanova, with Stress Factor finishing midfield after initially stepping to the front before taking cover.

The race was claimed by a dominant performance from Watts Up Majestic, the Rickie Alchin trained four-year-old claiming a winning margin of five metres.

It was a unique sight in the early stages with the big field of trotters settling in single file for the opening lap, before driver Shane Graham pulled out with one mile left to travel and made a strong play for the lead.

That play was repelled by Gee Up Neddy and Watts Up Majestic was then forced to sit parked.

One lap later and approaching the 550-metre point, Watts Up Majestic went straight past the early leader and pulled clear to score an emphatic victory over the 3157-metre journey.

Justabitnoisy was able to shake clear in the latter stages to grab second, having now finished in all three podium positions in this race, adding to his 2019 win and his third in 2016.

Red Castleton held on for third after tracking into the race on the back of Watts Up Majestic, while Gee Up Neddy who led for the first 2500-metres of the race, held on to fourth placing, albeit 24-metres from the winner.

THE MILESTONE

It may go down in the records as a milestone for Kay Crone, but whenever a winner is trained under her name, there is raft of help in the background from her family in the process.

That is not to dismiss the achievements of Kay, far from it, but referring to themselves as the Crone Family Stable, they are like many in the sport - a family operation where everyone chips in to ensure the stable runs as smoothly as possible.

Last Wednesday at Marburg, Kay was recognised with her 100^th training success when Schooby was able to claim a 2.5m victory.

While it may be all hands-on deck from the family at the stable, Schooby is owned by Kay, so it was fitting that he be the horse to bring up the milestone.

Gifted to the Crone’s by Rickie Alchin after two unplaced race starts, the latest win by Schooby took his record to ten wins and nineteen minor placings.

With seven wins against her name this season, Dollarbill, The Crom and Schooby have all won twice this term for Crone, with Chasin Dreamz the winner of one race.

Reaching 100 wins- with 96 of those since the 2015/16 Season- is a great achievement for Kay and the Crone family, receiving mostly tried stock that get passed on.

However, that has not stopped them from achieving some great results.

Dollarbill has gone on to win 17 races and place a further 28 times since he arrived in the Crone barn, with other multiple winners including Havana Magic, Fremarksindi, Chasin Dreamz and Our Buscemi.

A career high season achieved in the extended 2019/20 term of 41 wins is Kay’s career benchmark, while current figures could see her 21 wins from last season eclipsed if the current win strike-rate can be maintained.

THE WILDCARD

Trainer Michael Nutley secured a unique training double on Saturday night when the half-siblings The Casual Goose and Call Me Trish claimed victory in successive races at Redcliffe.

It was a case of doubles all round as both pacers are owned by Michael’s father Darryl Nutley and were both driven to success by Hayden Barnes.

Call Me Trish is a seven-year-old mare by Always A Virgin, while The Casual Goose is by Pet Rock and may be one year younger than his sister, but can boast two more career wins, the latest taking his tally to nine.

The dam of both pacers is Madrina Dee, a one-win mare that is the dam of three foals, the third foal- Emily Lauren- was retired after eleven starts that returned just one placing.

The Casual Goose may have recorded more wins than his older sister, however it is Call Me Trish that can lay claim to securing the fastest mile with a 1.55.8 lifetime best and has also banked more lifetime stakes than her little ‘bro’.

With sixteen career wins between the pair, and having raced on the same card previously, Saturday’s double was the first time that they have both been successful at the same meeting.

However, the pair have previously competed in the same race.

That was in May of 2020 at Albion Park on a Saturday night, and on that occasion, it was a family quinella, with The Casual Goose claiming a victory over Call Me Trish.

Hayden Barnes has developed a great rapport with the Nutley trained pair, with five wins aboard Call Me Trish and eight wins aboard The Casual Goose.

THIS WEEK

With Easter weekend approaching at the end of the week, all trainers and participants are reminded to check the updated schedule of deadlines this week.

On the track, Albion Park is set to return to night racing for the first time since February, with Saturday’s fixture programmed for the night slot.

Racing will also come from The Creek on Tuesday afternoon with a ten-race card and Thursday afternoon.

After filling the void in recent weeks, Redcliffe will host a lone Wednesday night fixture this week.

All roads head west to Marburg on Easter Sunday for their biggest day of the year.

The Oakwood Capital Goldstrike Final will be held, with the capacity standing start field to do battle for over $25,000 in prizemoney.

After four competitive heats, the 2022 renewal looks set to be another thrilling event.