Spring has sprung, and with that comes the new season of Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit racing.
The best of the best, elite equine heroes clashing in the biggest races on the calendar spread across the southern hemisphere spanning a six month window of pure pacing power.
And it starts this Saturday night with the running of the $200,000 Garrards Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park in Brisbane.
It’s the biggest event on the sunshine state’s calendar and always attracts a quality field with connections keen to put their name forward early hoping for an invitation for country’s premier sprint race, the Miracle Mile in late November staged in Sydney.
Or perhaps connections are just lured by the generous prizemoney coupled with the warm Queensland hospitality?
The locals always strive to win the QPC – a race steeped in tradition and a great opportunity to have bragging rights for the remainder of the season.
Looking through the honour roll, it features all the greats headlined by champion pacer Blacks A Fake who won it twice (2008/09) while dual hemisphere champion Mr Feelgood, Slipnslide and Double Identity are also repeat winners.
Other great names include Westburn Grant, Courage Under Fire, Tailamade Lombo, Our Maestro, Popular Alm, Wondai’s Mate, Preux Chevalier, Gammalite, Koala King, Rip Van Winkle and the incomparable Paleface Adios among many others.
Another name will be added this weekend.
Recently crowned Queensland Horse of the Year Avonnova is looking at snaring his biggest victory since relocating from Sydney twelve months ago.
Bought for a modest amount from a claiming event at Goulburn, Avonnova has transformed into an equine wrecking machine under the care of co-owner and trainer Ian Gurney.
And that was clearly evident last week when he crushed his rivals with brutal front-running display to win the Gr.2 $75,000 Gold Coast Cup in track record time.
The free-legged pacer rated 1;54 for the 2138m event while carving out a 54.4 second last half.
A performance that oozed power and strength.
Avonnova has drawn ideally in gate five and will be handled by Shane Graham who is searching for his maiden victory in the state’s biggest race.
Amongst main dangers for Avonnova this week is Team McCarthy.
Formerly based in Brisbane, the highly decorated stables of John coupled with his son Luke and daughter-in-law Belinda who are now Sydney based, have made this race their own in the last decade.
The McCarthy clan has won 7 of the last 9 editions with only Blacks A Fake standing in their way of complete domination.
It stated back in 2004 when Cobbity Classic scored before Slipnslide went back to back in 2005/06.
The race was not held in 2007 due to equine influenza.
After filling placings behind Blacks A Fake in 2008/09, the star stable struck again through Mr Feelgood in 2010/11 while Washakie and Ideal Scott have both etched their names in the pages of history.
This year, John is represented by Blazin N Cullen and Machtavish while Luke and Belinda have entered Victoria Cup winner For A Reason and the lightly assessed Our Hi Jinx.
Comeback pacer For A Reason appears the best hope after catching the eye last week when charging late for fourth behind Avonnova.
The Art Major entire has landed gate three.
In-form trainer Shane Tritton heads north from his Newcastle base again with a dual pronged attack in the shape of Marty Monkhouser and Mark Dennis.
But both have drawn poorly off the second-line.
Marty Monkhouser, a last start winner of the Gr.1 Breeders Crown 4yo Final at Melton in August will be handled by stable reinsperson Lauren Panella while Australian Driving champion Pete McMullen has been booked for Mark Dennis.
Another interstate trained performer in Abettorpunt also faces a second-line draw leaving driver John Caldow with plenty of thinking to do as he attempts to plot the right path to glory.
The David Lewis trained pacer was excellent last week finishing third behind Avonnova in the Gold Coast Cup.
Classy mare Forever Gold is the only representative of the fairer sex but needs plenty of luck after being slammed with a shocking draw, the outside of the front-line in the 2680m feature.
Star Local trainer Grant Dixon will send out a pair of runners in former Kiwi geldings Majestic Major and Supreme Mach while astute mentor Ken Rattray is hoping Funny Boy will have the last laugh.
Let the season begin!
The QPC is race 6 on the program, scheduled to start at 8.10pm local time.
