Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
There will be a big Queensland Constellations focus this weekend with several carnival hopefuls competing around the country.
The Bulli Trotters Cup at Menangle will feature London To A Brick who is chasing a hat-trick of wins.
The James Rattray-trained five-year-old currently is ranked sixth in the trotters Inter Dominion rankings.
ID pacing hopefuls will also clash, with Max Delight, Nyack, Terry, Whereyabinboppin and Im The Falcon all contesting the Bill Green free for all.
CAN THE TIGER ROAR FIRST-UP?
Saturday night’s open pace at Albion Park will feature eight starters with six of those firmly entrenched in the top 36 Inter Dominion rankings.
The most interesting runner of the field is currently on the third line of betting in the early market.
The Michael Brennan-trained Pinny Tiger is making his first race appearance at Albion Park since crossing the Nullarbor.
Blessed with brilliant gate speed, the gelding will start from gate three and will be partnered by Carter Dalgety who will jet in from New Zealand to take two drives for Brennan.
The seven-year-old Pinny Tiger is a 20-time winner in Western Australia and has been familiarised with the Albion Park track with a recent trial victory when leading throughout from barrier seven.
Blacksadance will also be first-up from a spell out of gate four in the same event.
The Chantal Turpin-trained gelding was last seen when finishing midfield in the 2024 Inter Consolation at Menangle.
Jimartee is the highest ranked horse in the race for 'ID25' at 14.
The 2024 finalist is set be partnered by a new driver this week as Adam Sanderson takes the reins.
Jimartee is the lone runner off the second line.
Jimartee has been winless since the Ultimate Driver Championship when Bjorn Goop landed a first-up victory aboard the eight-year-old.
Wisper A Secret looks the horse to beat in the race.
The five-year-old is really hitting his straps in his past two starts.
Wisper A Secret has produced a career best 1.49.7 victory at the mile and followed that with a tough win over the 2138 metres, highlighted by a 54.6 second closing half.
Victory on Saturday will take The Rising Sun-winner beyond $500,000 in earnings and likely lift his Inter Dominion ranking above 23 where he currently sits.
RACE ONE TO SIZZLE
The opening race of the night on Saturday at Albion Park shapes as a cracking contest and has a front line loaded with speed and talent.
Attachment resumes from a spell for his first appearance of the season for Chantal Turpin.
The half-brother of Blacksadance will be partnered by Pete McMullen from barrier five.
A winner of 11 races, the gelding ended his three-year-old term in December with a slick victory from barrier seven where he stopped the clock in a rate of 1.51.6.
Iron Clad is yet to win this season in five appearances, but the Grant Dixon trained four-year-old had his chances boosted when coming up with barrier one.
The Mark Dux-trained Apollo Dreamz has found good form in recent weeks, claiming successive victories prior to last week’s placing.
My Ultimate Buddha will start to his outside and was a narrow second three runs back, finishing just a half-neck away after doing all the work in the run.
Vinsanity ended the winning streak of the highly talented Its Electrifying last start at Redcliffe.
Blessed with ability, the Donny Smith-trained five-year-old is still an Albion Park maiden despite placing in four of six starts at headquarters, all three of his Queensland victories coming at Redcliffe.
Another quality four-year-old resuming from a spell that draws for an economical trip is the Darrel Graham-trained In Excess.
Last season’s South East Derby-winner has had two trials in readiness for a return to the track and finished just a neck from Pinny Tiger in the second of those.
It is sure to be keen and willing throughout the 1660 metre event.
GET ON
Race eight, number one on Saturday night – Reason To Shine.
Placed in all three starts since her last victory, the Shannon Price-trained mare attacked the line strongly last week for a narrow second.
The improved gate can be the catalyst for victory.
