Dashman's harness look ahead - March 28

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

Harness racing heads to Albion Park and Marburg over the weekend.

At Marburg on Sunday, the final two rounds of the Queensland Young Drivers Championship will be decided.

Our local trainers will also be represented in feature races both interstate and internationally over the next two days.

GET ON

Checknoutthetalent at Albion Park on Saturday night in race five.

Checknoutthetalent was beaten a half-head three starts back from this same gate.

His past two have been against stronger opposition and this looks the right set up.

DAWSON AND DWYER ACROSS THE DITCH

Former Australian three-year-old trotter of the year Not As Promised secured a slot in the big New Zealand trot race to be held on April 4.

The five-year-old has been taken across to the North Island a week ahead of the race to acclimatise and take in a lead-up event.

Trainer Graham Dwyer has set Not As Promised for the Waikato Trotters Flying Mile at Cambridge as a key preparation race ahead of next week’s main target.

Regular driver Nathan Dawson will make the trip across to drive the gelding who will line-up from barrier three, with the race set to jump at 5.38pm (Queensland time).

Facing just four other opponents in the Group 2 feature, it appears Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena will be the two hardest to beat, with both of those drawn to Not As Promised's outside.

KASH TO BE FOUND AT BATHURST

Gemma Hewitt sent a pair of two-year-olds to contest the Bathurst Gold Crown heats last Friday, with Iam Hugo and Kash Fund chasing a spot in the time-honoured feature race.

Iam Hugo finished down the line in his heat and will take his spot in race five on Friday afternoon, which is a bronze consolation, with Brendan Barnes taking the reins.

Kash Fund finished second in his heat and will line-up in Saturday night’s decider from gate four.

Finishing second on debut at Albion Park, Kash Fund was then second behind You Gotta Believe in his Gold Crown heat which was the second fastest of the seven heats conducted last Friday.

MCNEIL FINAL COULD TURN BLACK

Following four heats of the Jim McNeil Trotters Championship, Saturday’s Final looks set to be an intriguing contest.

With all four heats held over the 2138 metre journey, they step up to the 2647 metres for the Final.

A total of six runners in the field have never contested that trip.

Another four have raced, but not been victorious, over a 13-furlong distance.

There were four different heat winners, with Darcys Fireball the only heat winner not to progress to the decider.

The Narissa Elkins-trained Global Flight will be out to join a unique club.

Only Gus and Majestic Simon have won both the McNeil and Darrell Alexander Memorial Championships.

Agent Black tackled the first round heats when resuming from a spell and was able to finish second to Darcys Fireball after just peaking in the closing stages.

Fighting them off second-up, the four-year-old will be tightened from the run and be looking to give Shane Graham a second McNeil victory.

Graham claimed the 2015 edition aboard No Bones About it. 

The Greg Franklin-trained Five Oclock Gerry was installed as the race favourite when markets first opened following placings in both heat rounds.

It was Nathan Dawson that took the reins in each of the heats, but Angus Garrard will take the seat for the Final.

Dawson is committed to driving Not As Promised in New Zealand.

Banff is the only runner for trainer Grant Dixon who will be chasing his third win in the race.

Jack Chapple has been called in for Dixon who is preparing to head across the ditch with Leap To Fame.

RACE TO DIAL UP THE HEAT

Race two on Saturday night boasts a front line stacked with speed.

Vinsanity, Life Of Art and Jamaican Rock are all drawn side-by-side.

Rudy Gee has gate seven.

All four are capable of putting the heat into the contest when the start car pulls clear.

Life Of Art finished second in his heat when forced to sit parked outside Rudy Gee and put in a strong performance to hold the minor placing.

Life Of Art then followed that with a dictating win in 1.52 over the Albion Park mile to set a new personal best. 

Vinsanity went to Redcliffe for his heat where he was sent forward from gate four to take control and fend off the challengers in a smart 1.55.5 rate around 'the Triangle'.

It could be Jamaican Rock that has the most sizzle.

The Pat Croghan-trained five-year-old has won three races from six starts since arriving in Queensland.

Setting the tempo when collared in the last strides at the start of February, the gelding has won a further two races since and been desperately unlucky in another.

Buried from inside the second line last start, he was climbing over their backs with no space presenting, taking a needle eye gap in the concluding stages to finish just a neck from the winner.

Returning to the front line is a huge asset for the speedster.