Dashman's harness look ahead - February 21

Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.

The slot holders were announced in the second half of 2024 and once the drivers were revealed, the Ultimate Driver Championship has started to build some serious momentum.

With the first part of the process completed on Wednesday when the draft was conducted, we are finally at race weekend.

There will now be 20 races and 10 drivers to find the Ultimate Driver.

GET ON

Risk Taker on Saturday night in the fifth race. 

Trained by Grant Dixon, Dexter Dunn will partner with the talented four-year-old who has been in great touch this season.

Risk Taker has won two and placed in four from seven starts.

A winner over this same 2138 metre trip three starts back, he has been runner-up in both runs since.

The latest of those was a smart effort when making late ground behind Betting Origin.

EUROPES BEST

After meeting Bjorn Goop, it is hard to tell if he is a rock star, a male model or a celebrity.

While he may fit all of those categories, what is undeniable is that he is a supremely talented harness racing driver.

A winner of over 8,000 races in his career, including multiple wins in the biggest two trotting races in the world, the Elitloppet and the Prix d'Amérique. 

Representing the Tumby Park syndicate, Goop was selected to partner with Jimartee in the first round of the draft.

Jimartee will be first-up from a spell.

Jimartee's last race appearance came in the Inter Dominion Final back in December where he finished midfield behind Don Hugo.

Jimartee has opened as the favourite to win the free-for-all.

Goop will also partner the favourite in the ninth race of the card, Island Bouhinia.

Shipping in from Sydney for Jarrod Alchin, the mare has not fared well from barrier seven.

However, her NSW form lines look strong enough that she will be a serious force.

LEAP TO FAME LOOKING FOR THE REPEAT

Queensland will have double representation in the Newcastle Mile on Friday night.

The Shannon Price-trained Sure Thing Captain will start from barrier two with Leap To Fame in barrier five.

Leap To Fame will be chasing a repeat victory in the Newcastle event with a win guaranteeing the winner entry to the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 8.

Following that path in 2024, Leap To Fame looks hard to stop following his last start Cranbourne Cup win which was the same race he contested prior to the Newcastle Mile last year.

Sure Thing Captain is first-up into the race following his last appearance in The Eureka.

Only lightly-raced, the Price-trained five-year-old trialled impressively in readiness for his return.

Sure Thing Captain ran the Albion Park track record holder Duke Of Scotland to a half-head.

The time for that trial was a sizzling 1.50.1. 

THE GREEN HORNET

With over 9,000 American wins to his name, Canadian-born Yannick Gingras arrives in Australia following a stellar 2024 which included a milestone victory in the Hambletonian aboard Karl.

The Chantal Turpin-trained Thesunandthemoon was the horse Gingras' slot holders opted to choose in the opening round.

An impressive last-start winner, the mare has won two of her three appearances since arriving in Queensland.

Sent to the front over the flying mile, the four-year-old was able to produce a new career personal best of 1.52.8.

Gate seven will make it a tough assignment, with her main dangers appearing to be Miki Magic (driven by Gary Hall Jnr) and Jungle Baby (Angus Garrard).

On Friday night, Gingras looks to have picked up a strong chance in race nine, where he will partner with the Darren Weeks-trained Instant Delight.

The trotting mare hit the line smartly last start from a 50-metre handicap when she was returning from a freshen.

Runner-up at her previous start back in December, the conditions look ideal for the pacing-bred square gaiter and with added fitness from her last appearance, she looks a strong chance.