Dashman's harness look ahead - March 21

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

Queensland fans will secure an up close look at champion Leap To Fame on Saturday night.

The Grant Dixon-trained superstar is having his final lead-up run before heading to New Zealand.

It will be just the second appearance of Leap To Fame this season at his home track.

Dixon opted to have one local run in preference to a race in New Zealand before tackling the Cambridge slot race.

A total of nine races will be held on Saturday night, with Leap To Fame the obvious draw card, while Friday night will see the second round heats of the Jim McNeil Trotting Championship.

GET ON

My Rocky Romance at Albion Park on Saturday in race three. 

Bad barriers have plagued the Chantal Turpin-trained gelding in recent starts, but the marbles fell in his favour this week and from gate one he will get every chance to capitalise.

GEMMA HOPING FOR HOMECOMING SUCCESS

Trainer Gemma Hewitt will launch a two horse attack on the Bathurst Gold Crown.

Kash Fund and Iam Hugo will tackle heats of the time-honoured series on Friday night.

The pair ran the quinella in their last Albion Park appearance before heading south.

Iam Hugo led throughout and Kash Fund caught the eye when hitting the line strongly into second placing.

Iam Hugo showed great speed off the arm to lead throughout at his second race start and has drawn gate six in the fifth heat (race five) of the Gold Crown where the Emma Stewart-trained Mount Barker Boy will likely to start as favourite.

Kash Fund is listed to start in the seventh heat (race seven) and will be the lone runner from the second line.

The Russell Jack-trained You Gotta Believe is looking like the one to beat in that event.

It will be a hit-and-run mission for Brendan Barnes who will jet in to take both drives before returning to Albion Park on Saturday night to fulfil commitments.

MARATHON TO BE A TRUE TEST

Remembering the best trotter to be trained in Queensland, the Our Overanova Trotters Marathon will be a highlight event this Saturday.

Trained by Grant Dixon, when based in Queensland, Our Overanova is one of only two horses to have won more than 50 races at Albion Park.

The other is Destreos.

Our Overanova retired with 51 wins and 51 placings in 125 appearances at 'The Creek'.

The 2025 edition of the race has attracted a capacity field, albeit facing the early scratching of Not As Promised with connections offered a slot in the Cambridge Trot.

Shannon Price prepares the early favourite Hide And Seek.

The talented five-year-old is looking to secure a fifth successive Albion Park victory.

A winner of the Christmas Cup back in December, Hide And Seek was taken to Menangle in late January where he made an error at the start of the race.

Considering the amount of ground lost, the effort to run fourth and finish within five metres of the winner, Constantinople, was huge.

Hide And Seek, Golden Sunset, Call Me Trouble and Is That A Bid all rounded out their preparations for Saturday’s marathon with a trial on Tuesday afternoon, where the airborne Golden Sunset was successful.

Transformed under the care of Shawn Grimsey, Golden Sunset has finished in the top two at her past eight in succession.

That streak consists of six wins.

The two second-place finishes occurred when only beaten a half-neck behind Not As Promised and Hide And Seek.

Golden Sunset will be one of four runners off the 20-metre mark, joined by Sir Fahrenheit, Victree Hill and Zealous Spur.

Trainer Daren Garrard has set the former Queensland trotter of the year, Sir Fahrenheit, for the race first-up.

The 11-year-old has not been sighted at the races since the 2023 Inter Dominion Grand Final.

With a pair of smart trial performances, the gelding will be partnered by Layne Dwyer.

Regular driver Angus Garrard has opted to take the reins on Get Used To It.

LOU CINI REMEMBERED

Race two on Saturday night at Albion Park is the Lou Cini Memorial which is named in honour of the former owner, trainer and breeder.

Lou's two sons Charlie and Stephen are still turning out regular winners at 'The Creek'.

First held back in 2011, the 2025 renewal is a deep race, headlined by the likes of Turn It Up, Dele Row and Tims A Trooper.

The Chantal Turpin-trained Dele Row will be chasing three wins on the bounce, following his power running victory last week over the mile.

Sent forward by Pete McMullen, the four-year-old was never in danger as he left his rivals languishing with a 1.50.7 mile, highlighted by a slick last 800 metres laid out in 26.7 and 27.6 seconds.

Turn It Up has had three runs back this campaign and from gate one has the early speed to dictate his position and likely will look for cover from Dele Row.

Hitting the line strongly two starts back, the veteran loomed as the winner along the passing lane last week, only for Wisper A Secret to descend from the clouds to score.

Mossdale Terry maps for a soft trip and is always consistent, while Luvbite scored another victory last week to continue his impressive start to 2025.