Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
STAR GAZING
Leap To Fame began his Inter Dominion campaign in style on Saturday night when claiming the inaugural Avonnova Open over a gallant Wisper A Secret.
Moving off the inside soon after the start, Grant Dixon moved his stable star around to sit outside Wisper A Secret with 1600 metres left to travel.
With a closing half of 54.8 seconds, Leap To Fame will take good benefit from the run, which was his first since claiming The Race in New Zealand eight weeks prior.
The half-neck margin displayed the form that Wisper A Secret is currently in as he continues towards 'ID25'.
Meanwhile, Fight For Victory showed why he will be a huge player in The Protostar.
Fight For Victory rocketed home from back in the pack to take out the two-year-old colts and geldings QBRED Breeders Classic Final.
Sitting near the rear with 400 metres left to travel, the colt produced a sizzling last panel wide off the track.
He reeled in the leaders and pulled away to post a winning margin over Boston Chief, with the early leader, Barsby, holding on for third.
At Menangle, London To A Brick was impressive when claiming the 15th victory of his career.
London To A Brick pulled clear in the closing stages to produce a career best 1.53.6 mile.
Ranked sixth in the trotters Inter Dominion, London To A Brick is a proven Albion Park performer, claiming the inaugural The Great Square in 2023.
Elsewhere, Aldebaran Zeus secured his first win since the first-round rankings were released.
The Brent Lilley-trained square gaiter led throughout over the Melton 2240 metre journey.
A SWEET WIN FOR TOM
The year 2025 continues to go from strength-to-strength for Tom Callaghan.
The young reinsman secured another career first achievement on Saturday night.
Since moving north to join the stables of Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen, the 18-year-old Callaghan continues to hone his craft.
Callaghan's recent milestones include a first win at metropolitan level quickly followed by a metropolitan treble.
On Saturday night, the talented driver was given the opportunity to partner with two of Turpin’s runners in the nights Group 3 QBRED features.
With one previous start in a Group 2 event, it was the first time in his brief career that Callaghan has contested a Group 3 level race.
He took the drive on Stripes in the two-year-old fillies' event and aboard Udderly Sweet in the three-year-old colts and geldings classic.
Firing across from gate seven to lead the field with Stripes, Callaghan almost pinched the race with daughter of Tiger Tara.
Stripes was only beaten in the last strides by Angus Garrard and Beachbabe Crocker.
In the three-year-old event, Udderly Sweet was drawn on the inside of the second line, following out the race favourite French Fries.
Holding the leaders back, Udderly Sweet was full of running turning for home and displaying the patience beyond his years, Callaghan aimed up for the passing lane.
With the speed to reel in the leader, Udderly Sweet arrived in time to take out the Group 3 feature.
Returning to the presentation area, the smile across Callaghan's face lit up a rain-soaked night.
He had secured the biggest win in his brief career.
With 26 winners to his name this season, the young reinsman is making the most of his opportunities and is firmly entrenched in the top 10 metropolitan drivers’ premiership.
LEADER PETE SETTING THE TEMPO
The QBRED Breeders Classic Final for three-year-old fillies appeared to be a showdown between the Chantal Turpin-trained Arrive and the Grant Dixon-trained Cool And Classy.
The market also reflected that assessment.
Making the most of the gate advantage from barrier one, driver Pete McMullen held the front comfortably with Arrive, taking the field through an opening quarter of 28.7 seconds.
Cool And Classy was three wide through the early stages and worked into the running line with 1000 metres remaining.
Dialling it up down the back straight, the third panel appeared in 27.2 seconds and Arrive was full of running.
Cool And Classy and London Baby, who was on the back of the leader, looked the only dangers.
However, there was no threat to the leader, with Arrive stopping the clock in a 1.53.8 mile to take the Group 3 feature.
The result provided her dam, the multiple Queensland Broodmare of the Year - Washington Lass - with yet another feature race victory by one of her progeny.
It was a double milestone for McMullen, the win providing the leading reinsman with his 100th victory for the season.
McMullen is now eight wins back of James Herbertson who leads the national title and holds a 17-win lead in the state premiership over the second-placed Angus Garrard.
In his 18th term of race driving, McMullen has now recorded a century of winners in 16 successive seasons.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Winter has arrived and that signifies the dawn of the Queensland Constellations is almost upon us.
There will be six race meetings this week in Queensland, Albion Park hosting three, Redcliffe two and Marburg chiming in with a Sunday afternoon card.
Albion Park on Tuesday will host the consolations of the QBRED Breeders Classic events for both two- and three-year-old pacers.
A night meeting on Friday will be followed by the likely appearance of Leap To Fame again this Saturday as the momentum towards the 2025 Inter Dominion builds.
