Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - August 21

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

THE GOOD

On Saturday night, Graham Dwyer and his 'Kingslodge Stables' reached a new crescendo, claiming a maiden Group 1 victory when Quik Change was able to claim the two-year-old colts and geldings Triad Final.

“What an awesome feeling, now that I know what it is like, I want another one,” Dwyer said about winning at the elite level for the first time.

A winner of the QBRED Breeders Classic earlier this season as a $151 chance, the son of Changeover was the favourite on Saturday night after snaring barrier one.

With Shane Graham booked for the drive, Quik Change was content to take the trail on the Grant Dixon-trained Balboa Rock through an opening split of 27.6 seconds.

With a second quarter of 31.2 seconds and then 28.8 seconds down the back, Attachment which had been sitting parked started to feel the pinch, with Cosmic Flyer moving up wider, while Graham had Quik Change poised and ready.

As they swung for home, he angled Quik Change to the outside, while Bronksi Zulu which was three back also swung to the outside, however caused some interference to those behind as things got tight.

“Once he straightened up to the outside, I was yelling and screaming,” Dwyer said.

Sprinting hard down the stretch, Quik Change reeled in the leader and with a final split of 27.6 seconds, claimed the Group 1 feature in a rate of 1.55.0.

“Some of the owners were crying, there was so much excitement it was just a surreal moment," the trainer said. 

“It is a huge thrill and most of these owners have not had a huge amount of success previously, so to have this calibre of horse is so exciting.

“Layne does all the work with him at home, so it is also a huge thrill for him to be part of a Group 1-winner so early, he was so excited he might have even hugged me afterwards."

After a busy season that has already seen him start on 16 occasions, Quik Change will now go to the paddock for a well-earned spell.

“He has grown a lot over the past six weeks, but he goes to the paddock fully sound, healthy and in great order," Dwyer said. 

“At this stage we will get him back with the view to a NSW Derby campaign early in the new year, but we will let the horse guide us where he is up to and won’t push it."

Meanwhile in the fillies division, Narissa McMullen made the most of the opportunity of brother Pete competing in the World Driving Championships in Europe, snaring the steer aboard Rylee Rhayne Bow.

Leading comfortably from gate one, it was a steady opening quarter of 28.7 seconds followed with a 30.2 second split.

Keeping the field stacked up through a 28.9 second third quarter, Narissa lifted the lines in the stretch and Rylee Rhayne Bow responded, zipping home in 27.4 seconds to hold off a game Ever Art for trainer David Thorn and driver Jack Trainor, with Majorita Jujon for Grant Dixon and Nathan Dawson using the passing lane for third.

It was the second Group 1 driving success for Narissa following her DJA win with Global Flight last season and her first pacing win at the elite level.

For trainer Chantal Turpin, it was her third Group 1 success, all three coming in the two-year-old Triad Finals, the other two coming in the colts and gelding division in 2020 and 2021 with Big Wheels and Awaywego respectively.

THE BAD

Mat Neilson had a strong book of drives on Saturday night, with punters rallying behind two of his runners, with Apollo Dreamz starting the favourite for the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings Triad and Alwaysbme an odds-on elect in the four-year-old mare’s division.

The two-time Group 1-winning reinsman could not make it three, with For Real Life proving too strong for Apollo Dreamz who had to settle for third, while Alwaysbme also had to be content with third placing behind Racy Roxy.

Finishing unplaced on five other runners for the night, Neilson had just one more runner for the night, taking the reins behind Pinnie, an outsider of the field in the two-year-old trotting Triad Final.

Still a maiden tacking on the two big guns in the market of Gait With Grace and Northern Heights, the chances may have relied on some luck to be on their side, but that it was, and Neilson drove the perfect race to get Pinnie home.

With Northern Heights making an early error, Pinnie was able to work wider to avoid the scrimmage while race favourite Gait With Grace speared away out in front.

Neilson was able to get around and then angle Pinnie back down into the ideal position behind Gait With Grace as the field settled in single file, with Northern Heights seemingly out of contention.

With Northern Heights being revved up to catch the field, he reeled them in, and Nathan Dawson went on with it, taking control with a lap to travel.

With no moves until the field approached the home turn on the final occasion, Gait With Grace angled to the outside to chase while Pinnie was about to work wider, but Neilson angled the filly back to the inside to take a shot through the passing lane.

Picking up strongly, the first foal of the 2018 McNeil Memorial winner - Needle - Pinnie darted through to claim the Listed victory.

It was a satisfying victory for owner and breeder Jeroen Nieuwenburg and family who also had Saydie lining up in the Final.

Pinnie is trained by Jason Carkeet, and while he may have broken and educated plenty of top horses over the years, it was his first win as a trainer at Listed level.

For Neilson, it was his 73^rd winner this season as he remains on target to reach his second successive century season which would be the 12^th of his career.

THE WILDCARD

Alanah Richardson secured the biggest win of her training career when Dextrous Dexter claimed the three-year-old colts and geldings trotting Triad Final, while husband Adam, who drove the gelding to victory, also secured his biggest driving success with the win.

Unplaced in a pair of starts during his two-year-old season for previous trainer Denis Smith, Alanah took on the training of Dextrous Dexter at the start of the season, with the gelding have his first run of the term back in April.

Improving every time he steps out on the track this season, Dextrous Dexter went into Saturday night’s Triad with three successive wins against his name in the form guide.

Beginning in position seven with all eight runners starting off the front tape, there was some early action with the race favourite Wewillseehowwego breaking gait after 200 metres, ending his chances.

That saw Gleneagle Reign move into the lead with one mile left to travel and the field remaining in single file for the next lap with Miss Memphis behind the leader and Dextrous Dexter three back.

With 400 metres remaining, Gleneagle Reign tried to pull clear of the pack and had moved to a lead of about 10 metres as they turned for home.

Looking like a placing might be his best result awaiting a gap to present, driver Adam Richardson was able to angle down into the passing lane with 150 metres to travel and once the gap presented, Dextrous Dexter let down powerfully and snuck through to grab the victory.

Relocating to Queensland at the end of 2022, the husband-and-wife team of Adam and Alanah have taken their time to build into the season, however the past six weeks have been their most successful.

In her fourth season of training, Alanah has secured 11 victories this term with Dextrous Dexter securing five of those and with four months of the season remaining, is on track to set a new benchmark.

The win also provided owner and breeder Kathryn McLachlan with her biggest win as an owner, the Listed victory being great reward for her continued support of the square gaiter in Queensland.

McLachlan unfortunately missed out on annexing the Triad double, with Northern Heights and Gait With Grace placed behind Pinnie in the two-year-old Final.

THE MILESTONE

For Real Life and Jewel Melody were both successful in their respective three-year-old Triad Finals on Saturday night, both pacers successfully defending their crowns from 2022.

Trent Dawson showed the excitement of claiming his fourth Group 1 victory as he crossed the line with For Real Life, a colt he also owns and trains.

The excitement of the victory reflects the journey that Dawson has been on with his star colt, winning the Triad first up since a disappointing performance in the Queensland Sun in early July.

Following that run, a veterinary issue identified an epiglottic entrapment, with the condition treated and managed, with Dawson hopeful of getting For Real Life back in time to defend his Triad title.

Impressing in a trial to prepare for his return, the colt was put into the race in the middle stages and with one lap to travel had worked up outside the leader Apollo Dreamz.

Drawing level with the leader as they swung for home, For Real Life proved too strong for his rivals, pulling clear to claim victory in a slick 1.54.7 rate for the 2138 metre trip, with the win taking his record to eight wins from 17 starts and over $230,000 in stakes.

In the fillies Triad Final, it was the Bernie Hewitt-trained and driven Jewel Melody that displayed her class, claiming the fifth Group 1 victory of her career.

Like For Real Life, Jewel Melody was able to overcome a second line barrier after Hewitt sent the filly forward with one mile left to travel.

Queensland Oaks winner Torque Like Motion was heavily supported to start the $1.85 favourite from gate one and after leading through the first 600 metres of the race, opted for take the trail on Jewel Melody, which pocketed Cheer Leader three back along the inside.

With a steady middle half of 60.5 seconds, Hewitt had plenty of horse left turning for home and Jewel Melody responded, running a sizzling 26.6 second closing quarter to post a three-metre winning margin.

Torque Like Motion held on for second, with Cheer Leader maintaining third.

Proving that times can sometimes be irrelevant, the 1.58.1 winning rate was the slowest winning rate ever recorded by Jewel Melody in her 11 career victories, with the winning prize money taking her career earnings to $482,878.

THIS WEEK

Six meetings lay ahead in Queensland this week with three a piece from Redcliffe and Albion Park.

The week kicks off with seven races from Redcliffe on Monday night before meetings on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.

A total of 11 races are scheduled for 'The Creek' on Tuesday, with consolations of the Triads to be held for two-year-olds and three-year-olds of each sex.

Friday will again be a night meeting from headquarters before the metropolitan fixture will be back on Saturday night.