Dashman's harness examination - January 28

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

HUNTER CUP DEFENCE ON TARGET

Leap To Fame extended his latest winning streak to nine with victory in the Casey Classic at Melton on Saturday night.

Given time to balance in the initial stages of the 2240 metre contest, Grant Dixon sent the six-year-old forward to take the lead from Tact Mcleod and from there was never headed.

With a steady first half of the last mile run in 59.7 seconds; Dixon dialled up the heat with a 27.4 second third split before putting the field away with a sizzling 26 second flat for the last 400 metres. 

It was a fourth feature race victory at Melton for Leap To Fame, adding to his Hunter Cup, Smoken Up Sprint and Victoria Derby wins.

It was a perfect lead up for Leap To Fame who thrives on racing.

The victory was just his second race start since claiming the Battle of Beersheba back in October at Menangle, with Dixon confident his stable star will take great benefit from his 46^th race victory.

This week’s Hunter Cup is shaping as another battle of the brothers, with Jason Grimson indicating Swayzee will now be a runner following his latest New South Wales Carnival of Cups feature wins at Tamworth.

A second consecutive Hunter Cup will see Leap To Fame become the first since Blossom Lady to claim successive wins in the grand Circuit feature, with no pacer able to go back-to-back in the past 30 years.

SULLY SCARES HIS RIVALS OFF

Giant pacer, The Mighty Sully, has claimed successive victories. 

Winning on January 14 in a career best 1.51.2 at just his second run in Queensland, the Daren Garrard-trained and Angus Garrard-driven gelding held a neck margin when leading throughout in a 1.52.5 mile at his following effort. 

Sent to the front soon after the start, the first quarter was recorded in a slick 26.9 seconds, with Angus Garrard able to pump the brakes through a 30.2 second split.

With the closing splits recorded in 28.1 and 27.5 seconds, the five-year-old held off the fast-finishing Cheer Leader, with Alta Equus gripping on for third.

The Mighty Sully was purchased in late 2024 out of the North Island of New Zealand, with several high-profile owners from the thoroughbred code coming on board in the ownership group.

Purchased by Daren Garrard, who has maintained an interest, along with Chris Essex, leading gallops trainer Tony Gollan has also bought a share in the gelding.

Joining Gollan in The Mighty Sully are some of his stable clients that have had success with the Group 3 winner Zarastro, who secured connections his biggest payday with a win in the Magic Millions Sprint on January 17.

GALVINATOR PREFERS JANUARY

The Mark McNee-trained Nautie Galvinator claimed the sixth race of his career when scoring in the last race of the day at Redcliffe on Thursday.

Seemingly at home in the summer conditions, five of the gelding’s wins have been recorded during the opening month of the year across the past two seasons.

Breaking maiden ranks as a two-year-old in July of 2023, when driven by Robbie Morris, his next victory was not until January 3, 2024.

That was the start of a four-win spree throughout the month, including victory at Albion Park over the 2138 metre trip.

Winless the remainder of the season, Nautie Galvinator has been to the races four times so far in 2025, recording two placings before the breakthrough win last week.

Driven by Matt Elkins - who has also been in the driver’s seat for all five of the January wins - the gelding was able to secure the one-by-one trail before easing three-wide to make his charge with 400 metres to travel.

Hitting the front close to home, the four-year-old was able to defeat the race favourite Goodolboysandbeer. 

Nautie Galvinator will contest race seven this Thursday from gate one at Redcliffe, the last January meeting for the year on 'The Triangle'.

NO GOLD BUT STILL SOME SUCCESS

Trainer Graham Dwyer made his annual January trip to Tamworth and while unable to claim a win in any of the big features, the stable still performed strongly across the 10-day carnival.

Pet Kitty claimed the Tamworth Sprint on Friday night, the seven-year-old mare leading throughout over the 1230 metre short course.

With Layne Dwyer opting to drive Mister Fonzi, the drive on Pet Kitty was taken by Cam Hart.

Hart jumped to the front from gate three and extended the margin to win. 

Stopping the clock in 1.25.8 for the trip, the time established a new track record over the 1230 metres.

It gave Graham Dwyer his second Tamworth track record alongside the 1980 metre record held by Surf Ace, which was recorded in a Golden Guitar heat win in 2023.

Qualifying Luvbite for this year’s Guitar Final, the ever-consistent six-year-old worked hard in the run, leading up the three-wide train for the last lap and battling gamely for third behind Supa American.

The opening night of the carnival was the most successful for Graham Dwyer, claiming a winning treble on the program, with all three partnered by son Layne.

Mister Fonzi claimed his first win for the stable when leading throughout and holding off stablemate Hell Of A Hand in a close finish.

Cote Dazur secured an all the way victory, with My Latin Lady completing the treble when charging home from back in the pack to score.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The last week of January means we will be one month into the new season by week’s end.

A total of five race meetings will be decided for the week with three from Albion Park and two from Redcliffe.

A program of eight races are on the docket at 'The Creek' on Tuesday, while Redcliffe will host Wednesday night and nine on Thursday afternoon.

Feature racing interstate will be the Hunter Cup from Melton where Leap To Fame will look to secure his second win in the Grand Circuit feature.