Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - May 13

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

THE GOOD

After claiming victory aboard the Peter Greig-trained Western Showgirl on Friday night, Pete McMullen needed just one more victory to bring up 3,000 career driving wins.

With one drive left on Friday, McMullen had the reins behind the Ben Battle-trained Creedence and he was able to position the gelding in a perfect spot behind the leader from gate four.

Looking to have a lap full of horse, the four-year-old made an error at the 400 metre mark for no reason and the gelding was lucky to stay on all four feet, with McMullen’s quest for the milestone now shifting to Saturday night.

With no drive in the opening event, the wait was soon over when five-year-old Alta Revelry proved too strong in the second race, McMullen bringing the gelding with a well-timed run and to bring up the 3,000^th winner.

Alta Revelry is trained by McMullen’s wife Chantal and owned by Craig Whiteoak, one of the biggest owners for the Turpin and McMullen stable and their Somerset Farms establishment.

Starting his driving career back in the 2006-07 season, McMullen claimed his first winner aboard Melton Royal Bonny at Rocklea on January 12, 2008.

McMullen’s first 100 winners would set a new benchmark, becoming the youngest driver to 100 in Australia, a record that would stand until Angus Garrard bettered the feat.

Ironically, Garrard’s record was lowered again on Friday night at Dubbo, when Jett Turnbull was able to bring up triple figures before his 17^th birthday.

McMullen then broke the previous record of Amanda Turnbull as the youngest to 1,000 winners when reaching that milestone aboard Ezi Days on December 30, 2014, before bringing up win 2,000 with Uncle Shank on July 11, 2020.

Displaying how dominant McMullen has become in recent seasons, it took him 2021 days to move from 1000 to 2000 wins, while the next 1000 were reached 620 days quicker, with win 3000 arriving 1401 days after win 2000.

McMullen capped the night by bringing up a driving treble, claiming wins aboard Shes Fullofspirit and Top Of The Moment, also giving owner Craig Whiteoak a winning treble.

It has been an impressive career in the sulky for McMullen, claiming two Australian drivers premierships and three state premierships.

He became first Queensland driver to reach 300 wins in a season when reaching 315 in the 2021 term, McMullen also represented Australia last year in Europe in the World Drivers Championships.

On the verge of another 100 win season, McMullen has reached triple figures every year since the 2009-10 season, with 315 the stand out, along with three other 200 win terms.

McMullen becomes just the fourth Queensland driver to reach 3,000 wins, joining Grant Dixon, Lola Weidemann and Shane Graham.

STAR GAZING

Three horses that all could be building towards The Hayden impressed in their performances on Friday night, while a pair of Saturday winners could also be headed down the same path.

On Friday night Ellis Street, Free Thinker and Quik Change all claimed victories, while on Saturday night, For Real Life somehow found a way to win despite looking to be out of business with 150 metres to travel, and Cheer Leader was given a neat steer from Grant Dixon to arrive.

Trainer Murray Thomas has fielded some interest in a slot for his exciting three-year-old Ellis Street which pulled clear to post an eight metre margin in claiming a new career best of 1.52.3 in leading throughout.

One race later, the Grant Dixon-trained and reined Free Thinker was driven aggressively from gate seven and pressed on to the front, where he would remain in claiming a second-up victory.

With Dixon having his own slot in The Hayden and the geldings’ owners, Solid Earth, also owning a slot, there is every chance the son of Hurrikane Kingcole will be lining up in the race.

In a similar situation are the connections of Quik Change, who own a slot in the race, and would have been buoyed to see last season’s Queensland two-year-old of the year claim his first win this season when darting home up the passing lane.

For Real Life was stuck behind a tiring leader on Saturday night and looked at risk of missing out, but when finding the gap in the closing stages, the four-year-old entire exploded along the passing lane to bounce back into winning form.

Cheer Leader is a four-year-old mare owned under the Seymour’s Solid Earth moniker and also trained by Grant Dixon and the classy mare claimed her first win of 2024 when the beneficiary of some handy Dixon steering.

Angling back to the inside to be three back with 300 metres to travel, the move paid off as the gap presented with the mare reaching full momentum to charge through for victory.

At Menangle on Saturday night, the Rickie Alchin-trained Montalbano likely secured his ticket north when the four-year-old finished best to make it successive Menangle wins.

In the New South Wales Trotters Derby, the Victorian filly Keayang Zahara showed her blistering speed to complete the Oaks and Derby double, with a potential Queensland trip unlikely.

Agent Black finished third for Shane Graham, Ajay Volstead in fifth while Head Em Up was sixth after an early error and then striking further trouble soon after.

The Queensland-owned Pinnie was runner-up to the winner and did her Great Square chances no harm following her impressive effort in placing in the Oaks the previous week.

THE WILDCARD

The third week of Trot Rods last Wednesday at Redcliffe saw the two winners come from the opposite end of the racing spectrum.

Successful in heat five was the Matthew Clayton-trained One Last Roll, the 11-year-old claiming his 27^th race victory at start 248.

In heat six, the Kelli Dawson-trained three-year-old Maywyn Bonton Boy was successful, scoring the third win of his career after just 12 starts.

Looking ideally suited to the one lap sprint, Maywyn Bonton Boy found the front and controlling the speed, driver Shane Graham was able to hold the opposition wide and rail through to complete an all the way victory.

Having his fifth start since arriving in Queensland to join the Kelli Dawson stable, the gelding has now won twice, both wins coming at Redcliffe.

As for One Last Roll, the veteran has been a consistent horse for a long period of time, winning races for several different trainers and is on the verge of recording 100 top-three placings following his latest win.

Unable to get across to lead, Pete McMullen was content to apply the pressure to the leader and turning for home urged the veteran to victory, over the race favourite Call To Order.

Returning to training after close to 10 years away from the sport, One Last Roll has won seven and placed on seven occasions for Clayton from 30 starts.

THE MILESTONE

Placed on six occasions at metropolitan level prior to race five on Saturday night, Layne Dwyer was able to claim the breakthrough win when scoring victory aboard Diamond Shooz.

Unwanted in betting to run as an outsider of the field, the five-year-old mare was settled in the running line from barrier nine as Elouisa Dale and Pete McMullen sped across to set up the tempo.

That left the race favourite Im Desirable in the stalking trail and with a solid tempo through a 58.2 second opening half, those back in the pack looked set to get the opportunity to make a closing raid.

Turning for home, Dwyer was able to angle Diamond Shooz wide and set out after the leaders, the mare responding to hit the front in the closing stages, securing her first Albion Park win in the process.

Licenced for just over 12 months, the 17-year-old Dwyer has started to get more opportunities in recent months, with his latest win taking his tally to 27 winners for the season.

With two of those winners coming at Tamworth earlier this year, his 25 Queensland victories have him in equal fifth place on the concession drivers premiership.

Considering it was Layne that coined the term “Leader Peter”, bringing up the maiden metro success on the same night that McMullen reached 3,000 career wins may just have some defining symmetry.

Reaching 50 career wins already this season, Dwyer now has his eyes on some bigger goals moving forward, including hitting triple figures by seasons end.

However, the biggest test comes up later this month, when Layne heads to the Department of Transport, hopeful of securing his provisional driver’s licence.

THIS WEEK

A different week on the calendar ahead that starts with a Monday night meeting from Redcliffe.

Albion Park will race Tuesday and Thursday on the mid-week circuit, with both meetings having an early start, race one on Tuesday at 11.12am.

Friday night will see Redcliffe step in to facilitate the swap with Albion Park from Thursday.

Saturday night at Albion Park will see the running of the QBRED Breeders Classic Races for the two-year-olds and three-year-olds, with the colts and geldings for the three-year-olds looking like a cracking contest.

The week will round out with a meeting from Kilcoy on Sunday, a standalone harness meeting on the grass.