Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
After five lost meetings, including last Saturday night’s metropolitan fixture at Albion Park, harness racing in Queensland is back on the track.
Redcliffe hosted a nine-race card on Thursday with nine races set down for the next two nights at 'The Creek' which includes the postponed heats of the Jim McNeil Memorial series.
Interstate, Shannon Price will fly the Queensland flag at Penrith on Saturday night in the Group 3 Renshaw Cup.
GET ON
Sheer Artistry at Albion Park on Saturday night in race four.
The Wayne Graham-trained mare was too strong for her rivals last start and from gate two with just the seven runners this week, she has the versatility and options to capitalise.
TRUTH TIME
Penrith’s Renshaw Cup has continued to grow in stature.
The recent honour roll shows the growth of the race.
It takes another step in 2025 as it becomes the final leg of the NSW Carnival of Cups series that offered a lucrative bonus should a horse win all five legs.
Captain Hammerhead ended the hopes of the Jason Grimson-trained Swayzee pocketing the $1 million bonus that was on offer.
However, Swayzee can still earn connections the $500,000 bonus as the winner of four of the Cups if he can be successful at Penrith.
For Shannon Price, the job of defeating Swayzee with her stable star, Speak The Truth, has become even more difficult after landing an awkward draw in gate 10.
Both Swayzee and Captain Hammerhead have also drawn the second line.
However, they will start to the immediate inside of Speak The Truth after drawing gates nine and eight respectively.
Speak The Truth has raced three times this campaign.
He resumed at Menangle over 2300 metres where he was sent to the front by Adam Sanderson, but faded over the closing stages.
He was beaten into third by subsequent Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo.
Unable to force his way into a second Miracle Mile, the six-year-old contested the Lighthorse Free For All last week.
He sat parked and was unable to fight on in the latter stages as Don’t Stop Dreamin charged home from the rear to score.
Luke McCarthy has been booked for the drive on Speak The Truth in the Renshaw Cup.
McNEIL SERIES READY TO STEP
After being pushed back one week, the first round heats of the Jim McNeil Trotting Championship are set to be held at Albion Park on Friday night.
Heat one (race four) will see the talented Agent Black make his racetrack return after his three-year-old season was shut down last October.
Placed third in last season’s New South Wales Trotters Derby, the striking stallion has looked sharp in recent trials and seems well placed from a 10-metre handicap for the McNeil series.
The main dangers in the first heat appear to be comeback trotter Madeakillin, Aldebaranstilinksi and Global Flight.
With two runs following an 18-month layoff, the Graham Dwyer-trained Madeakillin impressed with a last start victory.
Global Flight has been sharp in two runs back from a spell, claiming a victory and a second in his two appearances.
Heat two (race six), has seen former New Zealander, Five Oclock Gerry, open deep into the red for his first start on this side of the Tasman.
The five-year-old had his last start at Auckland on December 31 and has been to the trials once after joining the Greg Franklin stable in readiness for this assignment.
Five Oclock Gerry produced a tidy effort when he was safely away and made good closing ground on the returning open class trotter Sir Fahrenheit, with Nathan Dawson to take the reins on the four-time winner.
The task for Five Oclock Gerry has been made easier, with the unfortunate scratching of the Victorian visitor, Argyle Rocks.
The likely threats in the race come from Triage, Banff and Thebestbourbon.
Triage looks well-placed off the front line, with starting manners vital to his hopes.
Thebestbourbon will need to be at her best to defy a 20-metre back mark.
TITLE UP FOR GRABS
Who is the best mare in the Sunshine State?
While race three on Saturday night may not be the deciding vote on which mare holds the crown, the contest will add plenty to the discussion as to who can stake claim to the deed.
Rylee Rhayne Bow and Chynchilla are the leading contenders to the title and will square off in the race.
They have drawn gates six and seven respectively.
Chynchilla will be resuming from a spell for trainer Donny Smith following her last start victory in the Group 3 Forever Gold in November where she tripped the mile in a sizzling 1.51.3.
Exploding onto the scene following her arrival in Queensland, the daughter of Sunshine Beach won nine races, seven of those at 'The Creek', of which four were in sub-1.52.0.
Rylee Rhayne Bow has race fitness on her side and comes off a last start victory for Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen when darting through on the passing lane to claim her tenth career win, which includes a pair of Group 1 victories.
If there are any dangers to this pair, it could potentially come from Cheer Leader who secures an improved barrier for Grant Dixon and will start from gate three.
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