Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
Easter weekend means the calendar looks different across the next few days and in Queensland there will be no action on Friday or Monday.
On Saturday night there will be 10 races on the Albion Park metropolitan card.
The richest race for the weekend will be at Marburg on Sunday with the running of the popular Goldstrike event.
Looking interstate, the Riverina Championships at Wagga will likely be a key stepping stone for a number of horses looking towards the Queensland Constellations.
GET ON
Golden Sunset at Albion Park on Saturday – race 10, number five.
The form trotter in Queensland.
Loves the mobile start and can dictate.
THERES GOLD IN THEM MARBURG HILLS
Following five heats of the series last week, the $35,000 Goldstrike Final is set for Easter Sunday.
The race has drawn together an intriguing line up.
The format of the race has all horses handicapped off the front tape in the heats.
However, for this week’s decider, they move to handicaps determined off their national rating.
Daggy Lamb for owner, trainer and driver Matt Elkins scored victory in his heat and importantly lands a front tape this week.
The 13-time winner claimed his first standing start victory with his heat win.
However, he does boast plenty of experience from behind the tapes, as he has placed on four occasions from 10 attempts when based in New Zealand.
A four-time winner already this season, including an Ultimate Driver heat win when partnered by Dexter Dunn, if Daggy Lamb steps cleanly and can press forward, he will be the one they have to beat.
Little Bolt for trainer and driver Andrew Millard will be looking to go one better, following his narrow second placing in the 2024 Goldtstrike series.
A heat winner and then beaten a nose in last year’s decider, the nine-year-old Little Bolt will again face a 20-metre handicap.
Little Bolt has built a superb record on the tight Marburg circuit, landing two wins and three second placings in five attempts.
Bonnies Cam will also face a 20-metre handicap for Dayl March and has a great record from behind the tapes.
Bonnies Cam has claimed four wins and was an impressive heat winner.
The lone back marker will be the Trent Dawson-trained and reined Betting Origin.
The six-year-old Betting Origin won his heat at his first ever standing start attempt.
The Goldstrike Final will be held at 3.14pm on Sunday afternoon.
DELE TO CONTINUE THE ROW
Pacer Dele Row has continued his march through the grades, having won five of his six starts this season.
The most recent victory was an impressive effort from the front with concession reinsman Tom Callaghan rating the pace as he gave no other runner a chance with a 53.4 second closing 800 metres.
Just two starts back the gelding took some tidy scalps that included Tims A Trooper, Aroda and Turn It Up, who he gives away barrier draw advantage to this week.
With the speedy Turn It Up drawn in gate two, Dele Row should be the early leader.
However, how it plays after that looks an intriguing scenario.
Dele Row draws wide in gate six, but he has shown versatility this season.
Dele Row's victory in the Lou Cini Memorial when defeating Turn It Up came when charging home off speed.
Racing Time produced a much sharper performance last start when flashing late over the mile and he may be the runner to test the lead early.
Despite being a small field of seven, it shapes as a great contest, with Dele Row the early market elect to stretch his winning streak to five.
THE SECTIONALS ARE NO SECRET
Saturday’s open class event is a race in two if the early markets are the gauge.
And, that is how it looks likely to shake out, with Jimartee on the top line of betting despite landing barrier seven in the eight-horse field.
Both Jimartee and Wisper A Secret have not had much go their way in recent starts and have become the victim of circumstances in chasing victory.
On the second line of the market and the starting grid, Wisper A Secret will be the lone runner on that second line from barrier eight.
That may leave Pete McMullen with an early decision.
Does McMullen position straight into the running line or does he stick to the markers on the back of Catseye Beach and hope he finds the space thereafter?
Catseye Beach tried to lead the all the way two starts back at the mile, parking Leap To Fame in what set the new track record.
If Angus Garrard burrows through early from the pole, he should have little trouble in leading and from there would give some cheek in front, considering similar tactics three starts back saw him a narrow second behind former track record holder Duke Of Scotland.
Sectionally, no horse has been producing more impressive sectional times without claiming victory than Wisper A Secret and this looks his chance to snare a breakthrough on what has been a mixed campaign to date.
Last year’s The Rising Sun winner has just one win in five appearances this season.
But, the disappointment can certainly be tempered by the times he is recording in defeat.
Will the market match the result and will either Jimartee or Wisper A Secret bounce back into winning form?
