Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
FERNCO JOINS CLUB
The 'sub-50 club' at Albion Park welcomed its newest member on Saturday night when Fernco Nel reigned supreme in a stirring stretch drive battle with Bold Medley Jujon.
Finding the front soon after the start, the Chantal Turpin-trained pacer took the field through a first quarter in 27.9 seconds, before taking a trail on the Mitchell Dawson-trained Bold Medley Jujon.
Following through and pressing hard for the lead, the second quarter appeared in 28 seconds as Nathan Dawson kept the speed frenetic with a 27.1 second third split.
Turning for home, there were only two chances.
It was Fernco Nel that had the closing speed to peel off the back of Bold Medley Jujon.
The closing panel was recorded in 26.3 seconds to stop the clock in 1.49.3.
Becoming the 10th horse to break through the 1.50 barrier at the track, the victory gave Pete McMullen his 200th win of the season.
It is his sixth successive double ton term.
Taking his metropolitan win tally to 74 for the year, McMullen has held the reins in five of the 10 quickest miles recorded at Albion Park in race conditions.
Victory also ensured Fernco Nel became the first three-year-old to join the exclusive speed club and become the fastest three-year-old ever on a 1000 metre track in Australia.
The win also bridged the gap in the metropolitan trainer's race to just one, with Grant Dixon on 66 and Turpin on 65.
LAYNE LANDS MAIDEN TON
Competing in just his second full season of driving, the 18-year-old Layne Dwyer reached a major milestone at Redcliffe last Tuesday.
Winning the first race aboard the Melissa Kendall-trained Diego Delgado, Layne took his season tally to 99 wins.
Finishing with a second placing in the third race, the century was achieved in the last race of the day when Bettors Moon responded to lift off the canvas for a tough victory.
It was a fitting victory, with Layne’s father Graham the trainer of Bettors Moon.
Graham has provided the young reinsman with most of his winners to date.
Layne added to his season tally with further wins Wednesday and Thursday, with the victory of Cheerstolou a standout.
Stepping out in Queensland for the first time for trainer Donny Smith, Cheerstolou has shown his share of ability.
Cheerstolou arrived as a nine-time winner.
Taking the reins behind the five-year-old, Layne sent the gelding forward to take control and produced a power running performance from the front.
Stopping the clock in a sizzling 1.50.8 mile, the Peak of The Creek looms as a target following the speed display.
BARNES AND BARNES SCORE
Battling ill-health, Al Barnes has still been a regular at the races this season and turned out a winner last week when Britts Mate secured the third win of her career.
With a small team in work, it was the second win in an eight-day period for Al, following the triumph of Bart Bentley the previous Wednesday.
Third-up this campaign, Britts Mate was able to find a perfect position in the running line by driver Brendan Barnes and when set free in the stretch, the horse had the speed to score.
The 1.54.9 winning rate was 0.1 outside a career-best recorded last season as a three-year-old.
It was a double celebration for the Barnes boys, the win providing Brendan with his 100th driving success for the season.
A Group 1-winning reinsman, Brendan claimed a maiden century season in the 2018-19 term.
He has maintained the numbers every subsequent year.
The latest milestone is his seventh successive 100-win season.
With over 1,100 wins in his career, Brendan will be hoping for some luck to go his way in the Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale Classic races this Saturday to potentially add more feature race success to his record.
Timmyteo and The Lady Dior have both qualified for the two-year-old and three-year-old finals respectively, after each finishing second in the heats.
RICKY SNARES RARE DOUBLE
Ricky Gordon was in the winner’s circle at Marburg on Sunday to claim training honours on the day by securing a training and driving double.
Ultimate Hunter proved too strong to give Gordon his first winner of the day.
The four-year-old sat parked and overcame the tough trip to claim a fourth career victory.
It has been a mixed season for Ultimate Hunter.
Ultimate Hunter claimed his first win for 2025 and ensured that Gordon scooped the pool as he owns, trains and drives the gelding.
Black Gemstone was the second leg of the double.
The seven-year-old mare secured her second career success for Gordon.
Starting from barrier one, the mare was crossed in the early stages by My Ultimate Heston and then sat in the trail until squeezing off the inside with 300 metres remaining.
Moving up to take the lead turning for home, Gordon drove confidently with Black Gemstone holding on to score by a neck margin.
The mare is owned by Lacey Hinze who also scored a training win in the last race of the day.
Lacey prepared Shakatie for her father Warren to lead throughout for driver Adam Richardson.
It was a Hinze quinella, with Our Dolly, trained by Warren, finishing in second place.
THIS WEEK
The Starlights take centre stage this Saturday night when the opening night of the revamped summer carnival is held at Albion Park.
The Be Good Johnny Sprint is the highlight of the night where The Janitor will chase his first open age feature success.
Complementing the main event will be the Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale Classic races, with big money on offer at the second running of the sales restricted event.
On Tuesday, Leap To Fame and Gus will fly the Queensland flag at Addington when they tackle the New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Dominion Trot, respectively.
On Wednesday night at Redcliffe, heats for the two-year-old and three-year-old Redcliffe Yearling Sale Race Series will be held ahead of the Finals, which are scheduled for Saturday, November 22.
