Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
Redcliffe took centre stage on Saturday night and the action on the track did not disappoint with some strong performances across the entire night.
Highlighting the strength of the racing, there were new track, race or class records established in six different categories across the night.
Four-year-old Aroda was a Redcliffe Derby Consolation winner last season and returned bigger and stronger for the Dixon stable in 2024 to claim the Redcliffe Gold Cup.
Driven by Trista Dixon, the gelding stepped cleanly from the tapes to find the front and once in control, kept them rolling along, initially repelling Turn It Up and the Send It.
With an opening half of 60.8, the pace was increased through a slick third split of 27.6 as those that tried to make moves wider on the track were thwarted by the tempo.
Turning for home, Aroda had plenty left to offer and pulled clear to a 7.6-metre winning margin, the 1.58.6 mile rate, a new race record, beating the 2020 mark of 1.58.9 held by Sole Ambition
The win provided owners Greg and Sharon Mitchell their third success in the Cup, having won the race in 2015 with Alleluia and in 2013 with Only The Brave, while for Grant Dixon it was his fourth success as a trainer in the standing start feature.
In the Garrards Redcliffe yearling Sales Series Final, the Darren Weeks trained Sinabun prove too strong for his rivals, sitting parked and pulling clear in the latter stages to defeat Hell Im Smooth and Our Sweet Jess.
It was the biggest win for Angus Garrard in his career, holding on to claim the win for his grandfather and part-owner CJ Garrard, who owns the two-year-old along with Chris Essex.
The 1.56 mile set a new two-year-old class record for the 1780 metre journey, eclipsing the 1.56.2 held by Roses Are Sweet, while also bettering the 1.56.3 race record held by Tardelli.
One of the form horses in Queensland at present is the three-year-old Ellis Street and the Murray Thomas trained gelding was sent hard off the arm to take control of the Redcliffe Derby, running them along at a slick tempo.
After an opening half of 57.9 over the 2280 metre trip, many though Nathan Dawson may have gone too hard on the gelding, however he rated Ellis Street perfectly and with a 27.9 third split, had the pack chasing.
Major Hot found space late to eat into the deficit after being buried away on the inside, however all honours were with Ellis Street as the 1.55.1 rate, set a new three-year-old class record, bettering the mark of Rocknroll Hammer set in the race last year.
The David Thorn trained Ever Art shattered the three-year-old fillies class record over 2280 when she led throughout in the Redcliffe Oaks, suggesting she will be a major player later in the carnival.
Her 1.55.4 rate sliced 1.1 seconds off the fillies record of 1.56.5 set by Amore Vita when wining the 2022 Oaks.
Cheer Leader set a new race and open mares record when claiming the Princess of the Bay, leading throughout for trainer/driver Grant Dixon.
The Al Barnes trained three-year-old filly Lucky Mum was able to fight them off in the Trotters Cup, running the 2280 metre journey in 2.01.2, bettering a five-year-old track record to push her claims for The Great Square.