Dashman's harness examination - January 6

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

NOT AS PROMISED BACK A WINNER

The season of 2024 was a disappointing one for Not As Promised.

The reigning Australian three-year-old trotter of the year missed all of his four-year-old term following a pelvis injury which occurred early last season.

Given time to recover from the injury, trainer Graham Dwyer used a long, steady preparation to build fitness heading into his long-awaited return to the track at Albion Park on Saturday night in his first race appearance since contesting the New Zealand Trotters Derby in December of 2023.

Allowed to balance from a wide gate over the 2138 metre trip, Nathan Dawson sent the gelding forward at the 1500 metre mark to take control of the race.

Once in front, Dawson was able to dictate terms, pinching a second quarter breather of 32 seconds and a steady 29.1 second third split.

With Dawson driving confidently, the five-year-old was able to cruise home over Nortie Nortie, with Gee Cee Calder in third.

Dawson gave a salute to the clouds as they crossed the finish line for Tony Veivers, the owner of Not As Promised who passed away earlier in the week following a long and brave battle with cancer.

Dwyer is hopeful that his stable star will be able to take the next step into open company and is excited by the fact that the Inter Dominion will be held in Queensland later this year.

BITTERSWEET FOR BRITTANY

As one door closes, another door opens.

For Brittany Graham, that statement certainly rings true.

After Majestic Harry finished down the track on December 28, Graham decided to call time on the racing career of the horse.

The trotter took her all the way to an Inter Dominion Final in 2022.

It was an agonising decision considering the bond she had formed with 'Harry' who had won 11 races for 'Team Graham' since arriving from New Zealand in October of 2021.

As 'Harry' closed the door to exit, it was only fitting that a flashy chestnut named 'Timmy', opened another door with the first victory of his career just three days later.

With the race name of Tetrick, the two-year-old has been a work in progress and while fleeting glimpses of ability have been on show, the gelding had struggled to display his potential in four starts.

Last Tuesday, Tetrick put it all together and was able to claim a maiden breaking win, the moment not lost on an emotional Graham.

Not only had it been a long road to get the best from Tetrick, but it was also the first training success for Graham since the win of Franco Totem at Menangle back on May 25 of 2019, albeit from limited starters in that time.

RISK TAKER THE FIRST OF THE SEASON

The first race of the new year and the new season was held at Redcliffe on January 1 and was taken out by the Grant Dixon-trained and reined Risk Taker.

Not only was it a season first, but the gelding was also the first horse to take advantage of the Queensland rating concessions made available to four-year-olds introduced this season.

With an eight-rating point concession available to four-year-olds until the midway point of the season on selected races, Risk Taker was well placed under the conditions in picking up the sixth win of his career.

A son of the Group 1-winning race mare Rani Major, Risk Taker has shown a liking of the Redcliffe track during his career, with four of his six wins coming on 'The Triangle'.

The last winner of the 2024 season was the Jack Butler-trained and Adam Richardson-driven Bettor Romance who stormed home to claim the last race at 'The Creek' on Tuesday.

Victory helped add another win to the tally of her sire Bettors Delight who claimed a fourth successive Queensland sires premiership and a remarkable 13^th straight national title.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP

With the last race meeting of 2024 held at Albion Park on Tuesday, the racing season was concluded, with the premierships decided for another year.

Pete McMullen claimed a fourth state premiership with 276 Queensland wins from Nathan Dawson and Angus Garrard. 

Nationally, McMullen and Dawson finished second and third respectively behind James Herbertson of Victoria.

Herbertson won the Australian premiership with a 93-win buffer, with Garrard sneaking into 10th place nationally on percentages after finishing tied on 175 wins with Will Rixon.

The 164 local wins for Garrard saw him a clear winner of the Queensland concession drivers crown.

Garrard finished 72 wins clear of his nearest rival to secure a fifth successive title.

Layne Dwyer claimed second place on 92 wins in just his second year of race driving, with Chloe Butler rounding out the top three on 86.

Grant Dixon continued his domination of the training ranks.

Dixon won a second successive state trainers’ premiership with 202 local victories and stretching his mark to 12 of the past 13.

Dixon also secured the national trainers title by 24 wins, picking up 213 victories nationwide for 2024.

Chantal Turpin finished in second place with 171 wins and will also secure third in the national title on 173 after picking up two Menangle victories.

Graham Dwyer finished top 10 in the country along with third place in the Queensland title.

THIS WEEK

Albion Park will start the week with a nine-race card on Tuesday which will be the first of three meetings for the week at headquarters.

Friday will be an afternoon meeting before the week will conclude with the Saturday night metropolitan fixture.

Redcliffe will host nine races on Wednesday night and the second meeting from 'The Triangle' will be on Thursday afternoon.