Dashman's harness examination - February 10

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

THE POSTMAN DELIVERS

The First Over Crush Syndicate will be hopeful that 'The Postman' can deliver like he did no Saturday night when the Ultimate Drivers Championship rolls around on February 21 and 22.

Nathan Dawson - known as 'The Postman' - claimed honours on the night with a winning treble and a placing from his seven drives.

The only Queensland driver to ever claim a 400-win season takes the reins for the First Over Crush Syndicate in the first ever 'UDC'.

Dawson opened the night with an all the way win aboard Our Major Day, guiding the gelding to a 1.52.5 win for trainer Dayl March.

With a potential trip to Sydney on the agenda for Captain Shuffles, Dawson made full use of barrier one on the talented six-year-old and was able to dictate through a steady 61.6 second opening half.

Moving down the back stretch the final time, the speed went on as they sizzled through a 26.1 second third split with the 27.5 second close out enough for Captain Shuffles to claim victory over the fast-finishing Manila Playboy.

Completing the treble and bookending the meeting, Not As Promised was huge in victory from gate seven.

Sent forward approaching the 1000 metre mark, Not As Promised and Dawson were three and four-wide until moving up to the leader’s wheel.

Pouring on the pressure through the third quarter, Dawson edged to the front at the 400 metre mark and the pair pulled clear and held off the challengers to claim an emphatic win.

The winning treble helped Dawson move equal on the metropolitan driver’s premiership with Pete McMullen with the pair on 10 wins a piece.

He also moved two wins clear in the state premiership.

DIXON TWO STATE DOUBLE

A 10 minute window provided Grant and Trista Dixon with a two state double and a pair of milestones for their Tamborine stable.

Leap To Fame bounced back to winning form with a dominant display when securing his second consecutive Cranbourne Cup. 

Controlling the tempo after finding the front soon after the start, the windy conditions proved to play their part as Grant Dixon went through the opening half in 62 seconds, before dialling it up with splits of 27.6 and 27.4 seconds to claim victory over Dont Stop Dreaming.

The win helped Leap To Fame move into sixth-place overall on the Australian all-time richest pacer list, edging past Monkey King with the 47^th win of his career.

At Albion Park, Trista Dixon had seven drives on the eight-race card and was completing the preliminaries aboard Houston Street as Leap To Fame went across the line.

Trista Dixon found the front aboard Houston Street and a 58.8 second opening half was enough to keep the race out of reach of those chasing.

Closing quarters of 27.8 and 27.9 seconds ensured the mare held a decisive margin over her rivals.

The win produced an individual milestone for Trista Dixon, recording her 400^th driving victory. 

She has won multiple Group races, including The Hayden, the Redcliffe Cup, an APG Final and multiple Triad victories.

OUR MAJOR DAY BREAKS DROUGHT

If questions could ever be asked about the durability and longevity of the standardbred, the opening race of the card on Saturday night at Albion Park answered them.

Our Major Day - a 11-year-old gelding - was lining up for the 220^th race start of his career.

However, a quirky fact surrounded the veteran who had been racing in good form leading into Saturday’s assignment.

A total 1,414 days had elapsed since Our Major Day had started from barrier one.

The coveted barrier proved elusive for the Dayl March-trained veteran who had started on 106 occasions since that last appearance from the inside gate.

Making full use of the advantage, driver Nathan Dawson only had one plan and no backup was required, with the gelding holding the front and leading throughout to claim victory in a 1.52.5 rate which established a new personal best.

With the win taking his career record to 32 wins, Our Major Day moved equal with another of the March’s consistent performers of recent years, Clintal Do, who also claimed 32 wins in his career.

And, that longevity was highlighted in the fourth race of the night when four-year-old mare Thesunandthemoon was successful.

The youngest winner at Saturday’s meeting, Thesunandthemoon, was born on December 6, 2020, the same day that six-year-old Our Major Day won the Warwick Cup.

MADAME TOO SLICK

Jonah Hutchinson was heavily involved at Redcliffe last Wednesday night and was able convert the opportunities into success.

With two runners in the second race of the night, Hutchinson opted for the reins aboard Favreau, with Leonard Cain partnering Madame West.

The easy trip three back along the inside proved the ideal scenario for Madame West and Cain produced the mare at the right time, sprinting hard down the outside to score.

Owned by Hutchinson, it was the mare’s second win this season and fourth since purchasing the daughter of Western Terror from Richie Williams last year.

One race later and Hutchinson claimed another victory, this time securing driving success with a pick-up drive aboard the Steve Coombs-trained Aqua Cruiser.

Driving confidently outside the leader, 12-year-old veteran Aqua Cruiser was able to take a narrow victory, the 26^th win of his career.

After securing a training win and a driving win, Hutchinson completed the night by combining both disciplines when training and driving Matai Reactor to victory.

The win was the 15^th time the eight-year-old has been successful for Hutchinson.

Securing results with tried stock in recent seasons, Hutchinson has slowly transitioned some younger stock into the stable and was active at Sunday’s APG sale in securing a Downbytheseaside colt.

THIS WEEK

On Tuesday at Albion Park the draft order for the Ultimate Drivers Series will be determined and can be seen live by going to the website.

On the track their will be five race meetings for the week, with day meetings on Tuesday and Friday from 'The Creek', before the Saturday metropolitan fixture.

Redcliffe will host 10 races on Wednesday night before a Thursday afternoon fixture.