2014- A YEAR IN REVIEW
JANUARY
The first race of the year was taken out by Studleigh Billy. Trained at the time by Greg Franklin and driven by Bart Cockburn, it would be the geldings 1st of 5 wins for the year and he would win for 3 different trainers.
Few would have predicted that the first Saturday night meeting of the year, the Open Class event would be taken out by the horse that would go on to be the Queensland Horse Of The Year. Avonnova won his second race for new trainer Ian Gurney on January 4 in what was a sterling year for all concerned with this amazing story.
Hard-working Redcliffe President Kerry Ebert landed his lone winner for the season with the win of Doolittle Doofy at his home track on January 30. A horse that is owned and trained by Kerry, it was also bred by he, wife Bronwen and Dennis and Kaye Whittaker. Darren Ebert landed the winning drive for his father.
FEBRUARY
Following a HRQ board directive, the metropolitan threshold level was increased to $15,000, meaning that as of February 1, there would be limited races in Queensland carrying Metropolitan Penalty. The Q assessment was born, meaning a race that formerly carried a metropolitan penalty now carries a Q penalty and races with a Metropolitan Penalty now carry both a Metropolitan and Q penalty.
Under the revised Inter Domininon format, heats for the famed series were spread around the country. After not garnering enough support to hold a heat here in Queensland the previous year, 2014 saw Albion Park hosting the Queensland heat. Forever Gold secured the spoils of victory and that ensured her a start in the Inter Dominion Final.
The first 2YO race of the season was hosted at Albion Park and the victory went to Our Baby Jewel. Trained by Stephen Woodward and driven by Adam Richardson the filly scored in a 2.00.5 mile rate. The win also secured connections the first of the revised QBred bonus payments, meaning that along with the winning prizemoney, a $10,000 bonus as a winning 2YO filly was paid.
MARCH
Narissa McMullen represented Queensland in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship in New South Wales coinciding with the Inter Dominion. Narissa snared 2 wins in the 10 race series to finish in fourth place overall. Rounding out a successful trip for Narissa, she scored an impressive win in the Lady Drivers Invitational Race on Grand Final day at Menangle.
Forever Gold lined up in the Inter Dominion Grand Final, making her the first mare to contest the final since Foreal in 2007. Hampered by interference in the home straight, she would have finished much closer than she did had she been able to charter a clearer course.
Queensland had double representation in the Chariots of Fire, with Majestic Mach and Brigadier Bronski lining up. The Grant Dixon trained Majestic Mach ran a great race to finish 3rd, only 4 metres from the winner in a fast 1.50.4 rate.
The first juvenile feature event of the year is held with Major Montana taking out the 2YO Paleface Adios Classic. Bred by his owner, Dean Shannon’s Montana Park, the colt went on to win at his next start in a heat of the APG at Albion Park. Unfortunately for connections the promising type went amiss after his April APG win.
Redcliffe were granted the Saturday night fixture on March 29 to give the Peninsula club a weekend of action on and off the track with their Yearling Sales being held on Sunday March 30.
With the Saturday fixtures at Redcliffe, Albion Park hosted the Jim McNeil Trotters Championship Final on the Friday. Clint Sneddon landed the biggest win of his driving career, with a well controlled drive aboard Its Three By Two for trainer Frank Bennett.
Long serving administrator, Damian Raedler resigned from his position as Harness Racing Manager with RQ.
APRIL
The first Saturday in April saw the Breeders Classic Finals for 3 & 4YO held at Albion Park. In the 4YO mares final, victory went to the Peter Greig trained and driven How Will I Know, while Majestic Mach returned to feature race success taking out the 4YO Entires& Geldings.
The 3YO Fillies went to the Bill Crosby trained Morethanmeetstheye, driven by Gary Whitaker and the 3YO Colts & Geldings went to Raring To Go, ensuring that all 4 Breeders Classic were credited to Fake Left as the winning broodmare sire.
The Redcliffe track record over the 1780m distance was shattered when Mustang Mach scorched around the Peninsula Triangle in a blistering 1.55.2 rate. The Vicki Rasmussen trained gelding was exported to North America to continue his racing career not long after he Redcliffe speed blitz.
At Marburg, the Easter Sunday Cup day of festivities was once again a success with the City of Ipswich Gold Cup taken out by the Kevin Hughes trained and Lola Weidemann driven Strike Power. The track was in top condition for the big day with two track records being set. One by the trotting mare Royearl Quest for trainer GraydonMcCoombes and ArveeBromac over the 2200m pacers mobile start for Darrel Graham.
Nathan Dawson prevailed in the Ipswich West Young Drivers Invitation Series held at Marburg, with a win and a second placing.
Trainer Shannon Price ventured south with a team to target the time honoured Carousel and Renshaw Cup. ChevalsClivesdale won his heat of the Carousel and established a new track record over the mobile 2125m trip at Penrith in the process, stopping the clock in a 1.56.5 rate.
The renaissance of Avonnova continued when he ran a slashing 2nd to Beautide in the Len Smith Mile at Menangle. Leading until the shadows of the post the gelding went down by 1.2m. In the Carousel Final at the same meeting, ChevalsClivesdale finished down the track behind a horse that would become his stablemate later in the season, Beetson.
MAY
Traditionally Nursery Pace month, the big Final night was the Luke McCarthy show. Of the 10 races on the card, Luke snared half, steering 5 winners into the winner’s enclosure.
Displaying his driving finesse, McCarthy landed the Group 1 double of both sexes of the Nursery Pace finals. Waves Of Fire for trainer Susan Hunter and Smooth Showgirl for trainer and wife Belinda McCarthy will now also go down as the last winners of the Nursery Pace following a board decision passed later in the year not to hold the race in the future. Other wins were Bling It On in the 3YO C&G Nursery Final, Mac The Finn in a Rising Stars Final and Safedra in a Q0 event.
Majestic Mach took out the Charity Cup, meaning the Mach Three gelding has won on Nursery Pace Final night 3 years in a row, adding to his 2YO and 3YO Nursery Pace victories.
The BOTRA Queensland Young Drivers Championship was decided across 6 heats. Emerging as Champion was Dannielle McMullen who recorded victory in two of the six heats. It came down to a battle with older sister Narissa who had also won two heats, however Dannielle was able to keep her big sister at bay to take the prize.
Forever Gold was given her opportunity in the Victorian Mares Triple Crown at Melton. “Tammy” was brilliant in taking the first leg, The Make Mine Cullen and was brave in a narrow defeat at the hands of Baby Bling in the second leg, the Angelique Club Cup. In the third and final leg, the Queen of The Pacific, unfortunately the hard runs of the previous 2 weeks may have told and she finished down the track.
Triad final night for the 3 & 4 Year Olds saw How Will I Know take out the 4YO mares title and in doing so became the only horse for the 2013/14 season to record wins in both the Breeders Classic and Triad Finals for her respective age and sex.
Charming Allie won her 2nd feature race in a fortnight. Adding to the 3YO Nursery Pace final, the daughter of MrFeelgood added the 3YO Fillies Triad to her growing resume.
In the 4YO Entires and Geldings division, ChevalsClivesdale proved too strong in an all the way victory. The win ensured back to back victories in the event for trainer Shannon Price and driver Brad Cowen, following on from Terror Time’s victory in the event last year.
Another horse to make it back to back Triad victories was Hezarealgem, when the Real Desire gelding landed a half neck verdict in the 3YO Colts & Geldings Division. The 2012/13 Queensland 2YO of the year had a season interrupted by injury, however he showed his class and driver Mathew Neilson scored his 2nd win in the race, his previous win coming in 2003 with Left Devil.
Brad Steele vacated his position as the Queensland Harness Racing Board chairman, leaving the 3 man QHRB operating as a 2 man board while the search for a replacement member was undertaken.
JUNE
Burwood Stud recorded a memorable milestone when they bred the winner of the Redcliffe Yearling Sales Final for the fourth time in succession. The 2014 winner was MathildaDiventa, trained by Darren Weeks and driven by Kylie Rasmussen. The Cammibest mare notched her name on the honour roll, joining Cha ChingChaching also by Cammibest who started the quartet in 2011, Couldntresiist followed in 2012 and Designer Style, by Mr Aviator was the 2013 victor.
Bling It On provided Redcliffe with a draw card for their Derby, however scared away his competition in the process. The Belinda McCarthy trained superstar was in a race of his own, winning untouched by over 20 metres and setting a new race and track record in the process.
With the Parklands complex no longer in operation, the Gold Coast Club’s signature race, the Premiers Cup was held at Albion Park for the first time. QHRB member Greg Mitchell had outright or joint ownership of 4 starters in the standing start feature, while trainer Grant Dixon provided 7 of the 14 runners in the final field. Major Moment, trained by Dixon and driven by Kylie Rasmussen was angled into the sprint lane as they headed for home and scored a 3 metre victory over a gallant Five Card Draw. The win set a new track record for the 2647m standing start at Albion Park.
Nike Franco, a regally bred daughter of Mcardle scored in the Gold Coast Oaks for the driver/trainer husband and wife combination of Luke and Belinda McCarthy.
Trainer/driver Donny Smith scored the biggest win of his career to date, when A Good Chance was successful in the 2YO Colts & Geldings QBred Breeders Classic. A Good Chance would go on to be crowned the Queensland 2YO of the Year.
The Shannon Price and Brad Cowen combination struck in the 2YO Fillies division of the Breeders Classic when Bettor Promise led throughout in a solid 1.56.8 mile rate over the 1660m distance for the “baby girls”.
JULY
ImThemightyquinn was the headline act for July in Queensland harness circles. Trainer Gary Hall Senior bought the gelded son of Washington VC east to target 2 races, the Garrards Sunshine Sprint and the Tattsbet Blacks A Fake.
Queensland fans were not left disappointed when Quinny shattered the Albion Park track record for the 1660m distance. Winning the Sunshine Sprint in a rate of 1.50.4 it shaved 1.4 seconds off the previous mark of 1.51.8 set by Suave StueyLombo when successful in the same race a year previous. The main target of his campaign came a fortnight later and in an epic battle, Quinny climbed off the canvas to record an amazing win in the G1 Blacks A Fake.
Ironically, the race would be ImThemightyquinn’s last race appearance, as he was retired later in the season after succumbing to injury. Incredible to think that Quinny fell just $7,982 short of Blackie’s Australasian stakes earning record and that both horses last race appearance would be in the Winter Cup (now Blacks A Fake) just 2 years apart.
Bling It On continued to plunder the 3YO Group races in Queensland, when successful in The Futurity at G3 level. The colt followed that win with wins in the Gold Coast and Queensland Derby’s in successive weeks. In total, the son of American Ideal won 7 races (3 Derbys) and over $170,000 during his Northern sojourn.
The enigmatic 4YO Chilli Palmer showed his brilliance in securing the 4&5YO Championship. In setting a new race and 4YO males track record of 1.54.4, the gelding secured his 12th race win from just 21 starts.
Forever Gold returned to feature race success following from her mixed Victorian campaign. Taking out the Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes for the third year in succession, the win secured the mighty mare her 11th Group Race victory.
Shannon Price and Brad Cowen secured their third QBred feature success for the season when Bettorthanspecial was able to turn the tables on her stable mate Bettor Promise to take the 2YO Fillies Triad Final.
Jack Malone scored the narrowest of victories over A Good Chance to take the 2YO Colts & Geldings Triad Final. The Peter Greig trained and driven gelding arrived right in time in a sizzling 1.55.5 rate, establishing a new race record in the process.
AUGUST
Redcliffe played host to the second of its Saturday night meetings for the year, with the Redcliffe Gold Cup and Redcliffe Oaks the feature events. Majestic Major backed up his solid 2nd in the 4YO Championship with a dominant win in Queensland’s richest standing start event for Open Class pacers held at G3 level.
Charming Allie’s season continued to blossom with the filly taking the Redcliffe Oaks. The win was her third feature race for the year and also added to her record achieved in July of becoming the fastest of any MrFeelgood’s Southern Hemisphere progeny. The classy filly stopped the clock with a lightning 1.53.9 rate when successful at Albion Park. The filly was presented with the title of Queensland 3YO of the year was hers
The Chris Garrard’s Patrons Purse at Redcliffe was taken out by Supreme Mach, driven by Mathew Neilson for trainer Grant Dixon. In a remarkable effort, Dixon saddled up 6 of the 10 runners and landed the quinella with Majestic Major finishing second, giving Solid Earth an owning quinella.
Show racing made a return at Brisbane’s Exhibition, with events held on each day of the show. Trainer Julie Weidemann along with her sister Lola and niece Stacey dominated the 10 days of the Ekka, winning numerous Finals along the way, including the main race on the last night with Lonesome Mach. That final carried a $10,000 purse thanks to the generous support of Chris Garrard, who was instrumental in seeing show racing return.
Grass track trotting has proven a popular concept and this lead to a stand-alone TAB status meeting held at Deagon. With a carnival atmosphere and a pleasing crowd in attendance, all 7 races were keenly contested. Brittany Graham was the star of the day with a driving treble.
The State of Origin Young Drivers Championship was held across 6 heats between Menangle and Albion Park. Heats 1 to 3 were held at Menangle where NSW and Kylie Barnes won the first 2 heats, while Trent Moffat hit back for Queensland with a win in the 3rd heat. The action then switched to Albion Park where Amy Rees scored for Queensland in Heat 4, leading in her teammates who finished in positions 1-5. NSW then won Heats 5 & 6 to take a narrow series victory. The idea of Kevin Seymour, the Series gathered strong interest and support and looks like being staged again in 2015.
SEPTEMBER
The first race of the new season went to the Lisa Bahr trained No Bones About It. A trotting son of Great Success, the win was the first of a hat-trick of wins within a week for the gelding. All 3 wins were recorded with different drivers, Shane Graham, Mathew Neilson and Pete McMullen all saluting with the 4YO gelding.
Hot on the heels of the Deagon grass track success, another stand-alone trot meeting featured, this time at Warwick. Held on Fathers Day under the banner of the Darling Downs Harness Racing Club, 6 races went down for decision. This time it was Darrel Graham who landed a treble to take driving honours on the day. Training honours were split between Dayl March and Shaun Gillespie with both landing a double.
In what may well be the first time it has occurred, the 1stQBred bonus of the season was paid to a trotter. Amelia Pond, bred and owned by Arbit Each Way was successful in the Seymour Group Trotters Handicap Final at Albion Park. The flashy mare stepped straight to the front and was never headed to record a 4.8m win.
Lebron won the 18th race of his career at Albion Park with a powerful midfield charge. The win was the 6th time Lebron has won inside 1.54.0 at the Breakfast Creek circuit and set a new best rate of 1.52.9 in the process. No horse has as many wins in fast time as the Brian McCall trained speed machine.
OCTOBER
The Australian Drivers Championships were held at Globe Derby Park in Adelaide with Queensland being represented by Pete McMullen and Mathew Neilson. After 5 of the 6 Heats, Pete McMullen had recorded a win and 2 2nd placing’s and was in the position that he only had to finish ahead of Chris Alford in the final race to take the title. It may have been a nervous time for McMullen when he finished in 10th position in the last heat. However, fortune favours the brave and Chris Alford finished in last position to ensure the crowning of Pete McMullen as the Australian champion.
October saw the RQ Awards night held in a night of decadence at the Hilton Hotel. All the previous season’s major winners were given their deserved recognition and presented with their respective awards.
Vicki Rasmussen landed her first metropolitan trainers title, after having a stellar season that netted 69 wins at metropolitan level. Kylie Rasmussen was awarded the drivers metro title, finding herself in the winners enclosure on 45 occasions. Grant Dixon was once again the state’s leading trainer and driver. Amazingly, Dixon saddled up 1,543 starters in Queensland for the 2013/14 season and another 51 at interstate meetings. Those runners netted 255 Queensland wins and another 5 interstate.
The big award of the night was the newly created Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Young Achievers Award. Presented to 1 female and 1 male winner, the prize of a one month educational stay in North America to further their industry experience was a keenly contested affair. The female award recipient was Brittany Graham, who experienced a wonderful first year. The male winner was Trent Moffat who experienced a season best 56 winners. Proving the confidence and recognition it has provided Trent, he has reached half the number of winners of last season inside 3 months of the current season.
Horse Of The Year, could also well be story of the year in Avonnova, with the Art Major gelding being crowned the state’s best at the awards night. Going from a claimer to a HOTY winner inside a year proves how remarkable the transition has been for the Paul Montgomery and Ian Gurney owned superstar has been.
The Hall of Fame welcomed 3 new inductees with David Fowler and Tony Price being joined by MrFeelgood in the elite company the Hall represents. Chris Barsby proved that young people can win an old person’s award, when his services to the industry were recognised with the BOTRA Pegasus Award.
The Queensland Spring Carnival took centre stage on the track and in the first week, the Be Good Johnny Sprint went to the up and coming Majestic Major, recording his second Group 3 win of the year.
Week 2 of the carnival saw the Gold Coast Cup, held at Albion Park for the 2nd time go to Avonnova. With the benefit of barrier 2, Shane Graham took the gelding straight to the front and from there he carved solid sectionals to win by 4.9 metres. The winning rate of 1.54.0 set a new track record for the middle distance journey and he appeared to win with plenty in reserve.
With ballot exemption available to The Great Southern Star, the Darrell Alexander Memorial was taken out by the up and coming Our Overanova. The back-mark of 30m was no obstacle for the 5YO son of Monarchy and it provided the gelding his 14th win of 2014.
November 18 saw the Ken Rattray trained warrior Destreos pass a unique milestone. Having already moved passed the number of career wins posted by Blacks A Fake, “The King of the Creek” landed career win 75, moving past Smoken Up in the process. The win also provided Kelli Dawson with her 39th win aboard Destreos. The superlatives that can be used to describe this equine warrior continue to mount and just when it appears he has wilted he finds a way to climb off the canvas.
The final week of the Spring Carnival was also the starting point of the Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit. The Garrards Queensland Pacing Championship starts the Grand Circuit every year and the newly crowned Queensland Horse Of The Year Avonnova was sent out a $1.70 elect. Managing to bully his way to the lead, it appeared that the QPC may provide Avonnova with his first G1 triumph. However a masterful drive from Luke McCarthy saw For A Reason record his 2nd G1 at Albion Park and the 4th of his career. Heading into the race McCarthy had driven 45 G1 winners in his career, while the other 11 drivers combined had a total of 44 wins.
NOVEMBER
The Newcastle Mile winner gained entry into the Miracle Mile and the Ian Gurney trained Avonnova was sent south in pursuit of further glory. Drawing barrier 9 in the $75,000 event may have seemed a hurdle. However with his main danger drawn outside him, Shane Graham drove him accordingly and speared to an early lead. From there he was never headed in recording a 2.4m win that also bettered the track record set by Beautide in winning the same race in 2013 en-route to victory in the Miracle Mile. Avonnova was brave in the Miracle Mile, finishing in 6th place behind Christen Me with his own personal race time 1.50.4.
While Avonnova was setting records in NSW, Forever Gold gained her own slice of history. The Darren Weeks trained mare recorded her 29th victory at Albion Park in an Open class event, scorching around the Breakfast Creek circuit in a blistering 1.51.7 rate for the 1660m distance. The win gave the daughter of Famous Forever the title of fastest mare in Australasia on tracks 1000m or smaller. The win also ensured that Tammy holds both the 1660m and 2138m track records for mares at Albion Park, both set in 2014.
Devil Dodger set himself a new PB when taking out a heat of the SmokenUp Championship at Menangle. Pacing the mile in 1.52.6, the Mach Three gelding recorded his 15th win under the tutelage of Grant Dixon. The win was enough to get the G1 winner into the Cordina Chicken Farms Sprint in an attempt to crack a start in the Miracle Mile. Unfortunately it did not eventuate and he took his place in the final of the Smoken Up on Miracle Mile night, finishing 6th behind the promising Devendra.
Our Overanova had a 3 start Menangle Campaign and was attempting to add the Franco Australian Trotters Series to his DJA victory. With an encouraging 4th in the first heat and a narrow 2nd in round 2, the Grant Dixon trained square gaiter had a tough run in the final, coupled with a gait break in the stretch the final time put paid to his chances.
DECEMBER
On the back of the new wagering deal announced in August, the Queensland feature race schedule received an overhaul with increases to both stakes and status of many events. Some of the races elevated to G1 status include the Garrards Sunshine Sprint, the Gold Coast Cup and the Triad Finals.
The Listed Lord Mayors Cup saw an even and competitive group of Open Class performers congregate. The up and coming dual Group winning Majestic Major had barrier 7 to overcome, the King of the Creek and 2011 winner, Destreos had barrier 4 and Forever Gold was drawn the second line in 10. Majestic Major proved too strong, providing Grant Dixon his 3rd win in a row as trainer in the Listed event.
Saturday December 6 saw a unique achievement at Albion Park. It was the first time in 2014 and the first time since December 14, 2013 that all races on a Saturday night program were won by individuals. No trainer or driver scored a double on the meeting. Amazingly just the week prior, November 29 saw every race won by an individual driver and this feat only occurred 4 times, with those dates being the 2 mentioned above, Blacks A Fake night and 3YO Breeders Classic Final night.
Moonee Valley of the North, Kilcoy, was once again hosting a big dual code race day to coincide with the Christmas season. With the 2013 day such a great success, the 2014 edition will be sure to be a great day out, on and off the track.
Congratulations to all participants and stakeholders for the past year. It has been a year filled with optimism in some quarters and stalling motors in others.
From myself, may 2015 be prosperous and fulfilling and I wish everyone the best of fortunes-may good luck follow you wherever you go. Happy Festivus.
dashman01's observations 