Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
The consistent form of Turn It Up continued on Saturday night when the Shane Graham-trained pacer secured his 35th career victory.
Arriving from New Zealand as a Group 1-winner back in September 2020, the son of Courage Under Fire has been a model of consistency with his latest victory his third in succession.
The nine-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down, with his past two victories setting new benchmarks in differing ways.
Saturday night’s victory over the 2138 metre journey was his tenth Albion Park victory at the mobile middle trip and was recorded in a 1.53.9 rate, the fastest of those 10 victories.
The gelding’s win two starts back set a new track record for the standing start 2138 journey, stopping the clock in a sizzling 1.55 from the tapes, bettering the previous mark held by Tims A Trooper by 1.6 seconds.
His latest victory was his 23rd success at Albion Park, a wonderful achievement, considering he has only ever raced in open company since arriving in the Sunshine State.
This consistency has seen Turn It Up on the verge of breaking into the top 10 stakes earners at Albion Park, with the latest victory taking his earnings at Queensland’s pacing headquarters to $414,422.
Currently tenth on that list is Alleluia, who banked $436,612 from his 30 wins and 49 placings at 'The Creek', while Leap To Fame stands alone at the top, having surpassed $1 million in earnings when successful back on January 27.
For Turn It Up, the achievement is further testament to his consistency, having never won a Group race in Queensland.
On Saturday, Graham sent the nine-year-old to the front and once in control he ran the field through a 60.3 second opening half.
Dialling it up down the back and trying to break the field open, the third panel appeared in 27 seconds.
Turning for home, Manila Playboy, who had been racing outside Turn It Up tried to rally but stated to feel the pinch, while Northview Hustler which was in behind the speed aimed up for the passing lane.
Send It produced three-wide to make a charge, but they were all chasing in vain as Turn It Up closed it out in 27.4 seconds to record his 23rd Albion Park victory, defeating Northview Hustler by a head margin.
Managing the nine-year-old to perfection with his runs spaced, Graham has done a wonderful job with the gelding and on his current form, a top 10 spot on that stake earners list is well within reach.
THE BAD
Starting a prohibitive short-priced favourite ($1.07) in the second of the Australian Pacing Gold Bullion three-year-old Fillies heats, Soap Opera galloped soon after the mobile pulled clear of the pack.
Galloping back through the field, the chances of the Darren Weeks-trained filly looked to have ended as she finally found her gear and settled at the rear of the field with 1200 metres to travel as the field raced in single file formation.
Driver Angus Garrard moved Soap Opera one-wide approaching the bell and was able to flush some cover for the last 1000 metres.
Sliding forward in the one-by-one trail, Garrard was able to track into the race and swinging for home, angled the filly three-wide.
Letting down strongly, she was able to move up to them and with 50 metres to travel hit the front and held on to claim an impressive victory over Majorita Jujon for Grant Dixon, with Synchronizer and Shane Graham gripping on for third after leading the majority of the journey.
Soap Opera was slapped with the outside draw embargo resulting from the error and will have to face the outside second line, the same gate she faced in last year’s two-year-old Bullion Final when finishing runner-up to More Sass.
The first of the fillies heats on Friday was a blow out result, with Merry Jewel charging home to claim victory for trainer Gemma Hewitt and driver Brendan Barnes.
Hatties Jewel ran a big race to qualify for the Final for trainer Phil Mitchell and Leonard Cain, while Tamarah for Riley Butt and Angus Garrard grabbed third, with odds-on favourite Missed Consequences missing the placings by finishing fourth.
The colts and geldings heats were annexed by the Turpin stable, with Checknoutthetalent and Dele Row both claiming victory.
Hot Rod Harry finished second and Quik Change third behind Checknoutthetalent, while Chicago Bart and Bronski Zulu filled the minors behind Dele Row.
The $50,000 Finals will be held this Saturday at Albion Park.
THE WILDCARD
Troythetrotter had won just one race prior to last Tuesday’s appearance at Albion Park, that win coming in June of 2021 when the enigmatic square gaiter scored for Rickie Alchin.
Such has been his woes, the six-year-old has trialled on more occasions than he has raced, with 26 trials and 22 race starts to his name.
Starting to put it together in recent outings, the son of Bacardi Lindy stepped cleanly and worked to the front to take control.
Gavin Crone took the reins on the gelding for son Matt and setting the tempo in front was able to take the field through a steady opening half of 64.6 seconds.
Increasing the speed down the back to put the third quarter on the board in 29.1 seconds, as they swung for home, Troythetrotter had pinched a break on the chasing pack.
Driving confidently, Gavin Crone had no reason to be concerned as they held on to score a 7.4 metre margin over the second placed Hammer Son for Doug Lee.
The win provided the father and son Crone duo with their first win together with Gavin driving and Matt training.
It also ended a winning drought for Gavin in the sulky.
With his last win coming in the 2014-15 season, there was good reason for the salute as the pair passed the winning post.
THE MILESTONE
Chantal Turpin reached 1,500 training winners on Friday night when Checknoutthetalent claimed a heat of the Australian Pacing Gold Bullion for three-year-old colts and geldings.
A strong end to the week also saw Turpin move into third place in the state trainers premiership with 32 wins for the season, moving one win clear of Jack Butler.
The three-time Group 1-winning trainer will hold a strong hand in this Saturday night’s Bullion Finals after claiming both of the colts and geldings heats.
Checknoutthetalent continued his strong season, taking his record to four wins from five starts for the term and sets up an intriguing clash with his stable mate and other heat winner Dele Row which is a winner of three of seven this season.
The 1500th winner comes 14 years and two months after Turpin's first training success which came in February 2010 when Acehigh Fella scored at the Gold Coast.
Training 88 winners across the next three seasons, in the 2013-14 season, the numbers really started to flourish, with Turpin claiming her first century season.
In every subsequent season, the stable has been able to reach triple figures, with the 2023 term the most prolific when leading home 169 winners.
With a training double on Friday night, Turpin added another double on Saturday night, husband Pete leading throughout board Aardies Flash, while Wisper A Secret claimed the Jack and Kay Waltisbuhl Memorial.
The win gave Turpin her first driving success this season, bringing the four-year-old with a well-timed run to claim victory.
THIS WEEK
A total of six meetings will be run this week in Queensland, with three apiece from Albion Park and Redcliffe.
The first of the week will be a nine race card from 'The Creek' where the Nutrien Classic Heat will be held, with the first colt or gelding and first filly past the post gaining qualification for the $250,000 Finals for each sex to be held at Melton on April 20.
On Saturday night the Finals of the Australian Pacing Gold Bullion series will be held following the heats on Friday night, with each sex racing for a $50,000 purse.
Redcliffe host three meetings for the week, a 10 race card will be contested on Wednesday night prior to Thursday afternoon and Sunday night fixtures from the Peninsula.
