Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
KICKING HORSE WINNING HORSE
It was the 2019 season when Racing Queensland introduced the Springboard Series for two-year-old trotters.
The inaugural race was taken out by Indefensible.
The following season, there was an introduction of the three-year-old series, with the concept growing in strength each season.
Last Tuesday, the Finals for each age were held and it was Kicking Horse and Laydownluna that were victorious in each of the respective age divisions.
In the two-year-old event, the Grant Dixon-trained and driven Kicking Horse was sent out as the favourite following his second placing behind Iconic Image in the Triad Final.
Stepping safely and finding the front, Dixon controlled the speed with a 62.2 second opening half, before building on the tempo as the field entered the back stretch on the final occasion.
Angus Garrard made a strong challenge approaching the home bend with Desiring Diamonds and looked set to issue a challenge.
However, the filly made an error and ended her chances, leaving Kicking Horse to post victory.
It was a Dixon stable quinella with Fredidrivsamercury grabbing second place and Smokey Bear finishing in third.
LAYDOWNLUNA COMPLETES DOUBLE
After securing the QBRED Triad Final for trainer Matt Crone on August 16, there was strong market support for three-year-old filly Laydownluna to add the Springboard Final.
Starting from barrier four, Angus Garrard sent the filly forward from the start to find the front through a lead time of 39.1 seconds, before a steady opening half of 61.9 seconds.
Not needing to extend through a third split of 29 seconds, Garrard was driving confidently approaching the home turn.
However, the filly went off stride, allowing the chasing Aspiring Victree to hit the front.
Returning to her gait, Laydownluna knuckled down for the task.
Laydownluna reeled in the leader and pulled away, scoring in front of the Shane Graham-trained Aspiring Victree, with Down South Daisy holding on for third.
Crone has only presented the filly for two races, with both resulting in feature race victories.
Crone joins his mother as a Springboard-winning trainer, with the inaugural two-year-old Springboard going to Indefensible when prepared by Kay Crone.
It was a unique achievement for Illdoitwhenimready, the dam of Laydownluna, with two of her progeny claiming the Triad and Springboard double.
You No Ill Be Late achieved the feat in the 2022 season.
DIXON DOUBLE TON
The win of Kicking Horse at Albion Park last Tuesday provided the Grant Dixon stable with their 200th training success in Australia this season.
Reaching the double ton, Dixon holds a 43-win lead in the Australian premiership over New South Wales conditioner Nathan Turnbull.
In the Queensland premiership race, Chantal Turpin has 120 wins for the term, 83 wins adrift of Dixon.
Since taking over from his legendary father and Hall Of Famer Bill Dixon in the 2011-12 season, he has reached at least 200 winners per year in 13 of the 14 seasons since.
With three months of the season still to run, some new records could be established.
With Dixon's current strike rate of 17% a career-high and with some big feature races looking at the mercy of Leap To Fame, the stake earnings ceiling could also be shattered.
The win of Zealous Spur on August 23 was the 200th for the stable this year, with Leap To Fame’s New Zealand victory not appearing in the tally.
DOHERTY BACK IN THE BIKE
With over 500 driving wins to his name, Steven Doherty has scaled back his engagements on race day in recent years.
On Sunday at Marburg, Doherty took two drives for the Tess Neaves stable.
He finished fourth in race two before starting from barrier one aboard Skippers Swan Song.
Leading the field as the mobile pulled clear, the mare was expertly rated by Doherty through an opening half in quarters of 31.8 and 31.7 seconds.
Increasing the tempo with closing splits of 29.7 and 29.6 seconds, the eight-year-old held a winning advantage.
The win was the first in over three years for Doherty, with his previous winner aboard Jansson coming on June 21 of 2022.
NARISSA ELKINS WITH A WORLD FIRST TREBLE
Congratulations are extended to Narissa and Matt Elkins following the safe arrival of the couple's first child late on Monday night.
Less than 24 hours after delivering Abbey Grace, Narissa landed a training double at Albion Park when Im Lord Tommy and Last Time Joe were both successful.
Not only does Narissa train both pacers, but she also owns the pair, providing a good kick along with the costs of parenthood from day one.
Not to be outdone, Matt claimed a ‘metro’ victory on Saturday night when guiding Tilly Jayne to an all-the-way victory.
THIS WEEK
The first week of spring will showcase five meetings held for the week, with three from Albion Park and two from Redcliffe.
Queensland trainers will hold a strong hand on Saturday night in Sydney, with several key chances lining up in the two main features from Menangle.
The Grant Dixon stable will have three runners lining up in The Eureka, while Shannon Price and Chantal Turpin will have key hopes in the Len Smith Mile.
