Queensland Harness Racing Wrap - October 17

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

THE GOOD

Harness racing is both a passion and a hobby for trainer James Lewin, who secured another victory with his good mate Lionel last week.

Lionel is the 11-year-old pacer that races under the name Circle Line, the veteran chalking up another win at Redcliffe last Wednesday, his eighth victory at The Triangle, with three of those since being trained by Lewin.

“I’m super proud of Lionel, he just makes me look good and grows a leg when he can spot clear air,” Lewin said.

Driven by Matt Elkins, Circle Line had the speed to dart through underneath from barrier one and once in front, Elkins rated the veteran to perfection through quarters of 31.1, 31.3, 29 and then home in 30 seconds flat to hold on for victory by a head.

Proving to have a real affinity with the gelding, Elkins has partnered Circle Line to five of the six wins when prepared by Lewin, having also been in the gig for a further eight victories when Circle Line was previously prepared by Ron Wells.

“Matty just knows him so well, he drives him confidently and knows how to keep him moving forward, he knows how hard he can push him in the race too which makes a difference," he said. 

Taking his career record to 26 wins from 272 starts with another 63 minor placings to his name, four of those wins have been this season, with Lewin crediting the success with keeping his mate happy.

“There is no magic or miracles, really its just management, he knows what he is doing at the races, I just keep him happy between runs,” Lewin says.

“He is trained out of the paddock, and I found that is a big key, he hates being in a yard, so I work him less and he just gets jogged every day."

The other piece of the puzzle has been overcoming some niggling feet issues that were plaguing the gelding.

“John Ballin has been a huge part of it, he does Lionel’s shoeing and has his feet really good at the moment and that has been able to help him," he said. 

Circle Line has now claimed four victories this season, propelling his way to the top of Lewin’s most successful runners in his training career, having conditioned Circle Line to six victories.

Mixing his hobby with full time employment and a young family, Lewin keeps chipping away with ‘project’ horses to keep an interest.

With Circle Line continuing to be well suited to the NR handicap system, career start 300 is on the horizon.

“My goal is to get him to 300 starts, but I know part of that is to still take each one as they come,” Lewin said.

“He is a funny old character, and I will just keep doing what keeps him happy."

THE BAD

It was a mixed weekend for trainer Gemma Hewitt, who had runners in two states on Saturday night.

The talented but enigmatic two-year-old Kerbang was lining up for Hewitt in the New South Wales Breeders Challenge semi-finals where he was faced with a wide gate with Brendan Barnes heading south to take the drive.

The gelding had progressed through to the semi-final after finishing in third place in a heat of the Group 1 futurity at Newcastle back on September 30 where he was resuming from a spell.

Eased in the early stages to settle at the rear of the field, the son of Sweet Lou was eased wider with 400 metres to travel and was the widest runner swinging into the long Menangle stretch.

Still with plenty to learn, Kerbang looked to be lost in the wide expanses and went into a wild break, losing all chance and finishing at the tail of the field.

A $46,000 purchase from the Sydney APG Sale in 2021, it was a tough night for the geldings’ owners, Wayne and Julie Loader.

The Loaders other chance for the colts and geldings’ series was the Bernie Hewitt trained Rippin Rupert, who unfortunately also finished at the tail of the field in the second semi-final.

At The Creek where Gemma had four runners’ stepping out, she was able to salvage something out of a disappointing night when steering Cala Jane to victory in a mare’s qualifier.

The regally bred five-year-old mare swept home over the top and claim a new career personal best with the 1.54.9 victory.

Claiming the qualifying win has been elusive with Cala Jane, but the daughter of Bettors Delight dispelled the myth of the number 13 being unlucky.

With 12 previous attempts to score the breakthrough qualifying victory, Saturday she was successful on her 13^th attempt.

THE MILESTONE

Having secured her first training victory back on August 26, it was an even more momentous milestone for Bree Evans landing her first victory as a driver on Friday at Albion Park.

Securing her licence to drive in races just one week prior, Evans was out of the money at her first race with reins in hand, finishing second at her second race start later in the day aboard Its Mr Clooney.

Placed third at her third career outing when steering Father Christmas into the money, Bree did not have to wait long for the breakthrough.

Taking the reins aboard Archilles, who also provided her with that first training victory, the pair were crossed in the early stages as Press Statement charged across to lead the field.

Content to take the trail, Evans was stalking the leader throughout and between turns there was space to angle to the outside if needed.

Judging the tempo, Evans angled the gelding to the outside as they approached the home turn and urged Archilles as he moved up to take the lead as the field straightened for the run to the judge.

Archilles responded and was able to hold off a closing challenge from Aye Aye Captain to score a narrow victory, giving Evans a unique achievement for her first driving win- as owner, trainer and driver.

Proving the affinity with her ‘pet’ Archie - as Archilles is known - the five-year-old has been super consistent for Evans with two wins and six minor placings from his 11 starts under her care.

THE WILDCARD

Queensland trainers competing interstate may have been unable to secure a victory over the weekend, but a number of horses have progressed through to Group 1 Finals next week.

Darren McCall had the four-year-old mares Girl From Oz and Lovin Miss Dixie competing in the New South Wales Breeders Challenge semi-finals, finishing sixth and seventh in their respective events.

That saw Girl From Oz progress through to the Group 1 Final where she will start from barrier 12 for the Final, with Lovin Miss Dixie the second emergency for the race.

McCall will have a pair of runners on the big Group 1 Card on October 29, with two-year-old filly Miss Frofrou progressing through to the big dance after finishing in third place in her semi-final.

Sky Blu, a filly that was prepared by Jason Carkeet heading into the NSW Series, has also made the Final but has been transferred into the care of David Thorn for the campaign.

Wisper A Secret for Chantal Turpin had his chances of progressing to the colts and geldings Final scuppered when he was a scratching from his semi-final and Kerbang for Gemma Hewitt missing the Final after making an error.

At the provincials, Shannon Price was able to land a winner at Penrith last Thursday, with Midnight Somewhere scoring an all the way victory with Jack Trainor taking the drive.

Preparing a Menangle winner is proving elusive on her southern campaign, claiming another pair of placings on Saturday night from three runners.

Van Sank was a stylish second in slick time in a trotters event, while Sumomentsomewhere finished in third placing in the opening event of the night.

THIS WEEK

Seven straight days of harness action lay ahead in Queensland, the week starting on Monday night at Redcliffe and concluding on Sunday afternoon at Marburg.

Redcliffe will be scene of three meetings, to be held Monday and Wednesday night along with the Thursday afternoon fixture.

Albion Park will host eight races on Tuesday afternoon along with fixtures on Friday afternoon followed by Saturday night’s metropolitan card.

Marburg round out the week with a strong afternoon programmed, including the annual Graham Harriott Memorial Trot.

Interstate will see the semi-finals at Menangle for the three-year-old colts and geldings of the NSW Breeders Challenge where Leap To Fame will be looking to progress through to the Final from barrier nine.

The semi-finals of the four-year-old entires and geldings is also on the card where the Queensland Sun winner Kashed Up has landed gate three as he chases a spot in the Final.