Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
LEADER PETE ON A HEATER
It was a weekend of success for the Turpin and McMullen racing stables, particularly for Pete McMullen who reined home eight winners over two days.
Winning four on Saturday night for trainer and wife Chantal, the pair have dominated the Peak Of The Creek, adding another victory in the race with the win of Attachment.
After four editions, the pair have now won three Peak Of The Creek titles, following the all-the-way victory to Attachment on Saturday, joining Aardies Flash and Uncle Shank as previous winners.
Attachment set a new race record and personal best with the 1.52 victory and became the fourth foal of the three-time Queensland broodmare of the year - Washington Lass - to eclipse $100,000 in stake earnings.
The win started a four-win streak for the stable, winning the remaining races on the card as Robyn X, Aardie B Miki and Shes Fullofspirit all saluted.
Aardie B Miki established a new class record for three-year-old fillies with her win in the Queen Of The Creek, McMullen producing a pinpoint accurate drive to defeat Chynchilla by a head margin and stop the clock in a 1.50.8 mile.
Heading to Marburg on Sunday for five drives, McMullen capped the big weekend with another four winners along with a third placing.
McMullen's record from his last 11 drives - 11: 8-2-1.
DOUBLE B TRIPLE
Hiranya made it successive Albion Park victories on Saturday night and set a new career best mile with his 1.52.9 win.
It also provided reinsman Brendan Barnes with a milestone moment of his own, with the win signalling Barnes' 100th driving success this season.
Beaten for early speed as Shez Notorious and Master Charles burnt the arm, Barnes stayed out of the early battle before making a move at the 1100 metre mark, sending Hiranya forward to take control with one lap to travel.
With a steady middle half of 59 seconds, the speed went on with 300 metres remaining and Hiranya responded, putting a gap on his rivals, with the only danger appearing to be Throwyaarmsaroundme.
However, Hiranya had plenty in hand to take his record to 13 wins from 50 race starts, which also includes a victory in the 2022 Tasmanian Derby where he defeated District Attorney.
For Barnes, it was his sixth century season as a driver, all six having come in successive seasons since his first back in the 2018-19 term.
With a maiden Group 1 victory coming aboard Jeradas Delight in the inaugural Golden Girl in 2021, the winners have been consistent this year, with his major win coming aboard Lucky Mum in the Queensland Trotters Oaks for his father Al.
INTER WATCH
The two feature races on Saturday night from Albion Park for each gait - the Be Good Johnny Sprint and the trotters feature - were each won by horses that are not in the Inter Dominion nominations.
The Shane Graham-trained and driven Victree Hill was victorious in the trotting feature, finishing over the top of the capacity field.
Hammer Son battled strongly to hold second following a mid-race move to get outside the leader, with Majestic Harry darting through for third after struggling for clear track in the stretch.
Adelle (currently 20 in ID rankings) and Zealous Spur (17) are both currently within the top 24 cut-off for 'ID24', finishing sixth and seventh respectively.
Meanwhile, in the Be Good Johnny Sprint, Blacksadance, currently ranked at 27, was the highest placed 'ID24' hopeful with his second placing behind Wasa Heat Seeker.
Jimartee (26), who was resuming from a spell, was the next best placed, with the Cristina Monte-trained seven-year-old holding down fourth.
Aroda (64) and Always Smokin (48) were both scratching’s from the Be Good Johnny, placing their Inter Dominion chances in jeopardy with the fourth and final round rankings to be released on November 20.
HOTTING UP
Heat Seeker!
The five-year-old Sweet Lou gelding Wasa heat Seeker continued his rapid rise through the grades since arriving in Queensland, with a dominant victory in the Be Good Johnny Sprint.
Trained by Mitchell Dawson, the gelding was partnered by Nathan Dawson, the brothers combining for the biggest win in Mitchell’s training career to date.
It was just the second runner that Mitchell has produced at Listed level, with the gelding taking his record to five wins in six starts since joining the stable.
Moving into gate three with the scratching of Aroda, Nathan had Wasa Heat Seeker in front within 200 metres and ran the field through the first quarter in 26.9 seconds.
With no pressure in front, the gelding was allowed to roll, posting a second split in 28.6 seconds before running them off the back straight in 27.1 seconds.
Turning for home, Wasa Heat Seeker had plenty in reserve, with Turn It Up in the trail starting to feel the pinch and Jimartee trying to make a run from back in the pack.
Wasa Heat Seeker was an easy winner over the fast-finishing Blacksadance who caught the eye in second place with Turn It Up holding on for third.
The 1.50.4 winning rate produced a new race record and took the gelding beyond $100,000 in stake earnings from his tenth career win.
THIS WEEK
The highlight of the week will be the Saturday night card from 'The Creek' where The Group 2 Queensland Cup and Group 3 Trotters Spring Sprint will both carry Golden Ticket qualification for the Inter Dominion.
Complementing those two features will be races for each sex of the three-year-olds and the Bill Dixon.
Owing to the Melbourne Cup, there is no racing at Albion Park on Tuesday, with a non-TAB fixture to be held from Redcliffe.
