Dashman's harness look ahead - December 13

Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.

 

The 2024 Inter Dominion Grand Final is the highlight of harness racing in Australia this weekend and Queensland will be represented in the pacers decider and consolation.

Jimartee - for the training team of Cristina Monte and Charlie Cini as well as driver Ricky Thurlow - cemented his position in the Final with a second place finish behind Don Hugo in the third heat.

Blacksadance will contest a second successive Consolation.

Locally, the Christmas Cups for each gait have attracted strong fields and both races will have a progressive type stepping up against seasoned open class rivals.

Get Used To It and Duke Of Scotland are each looking to make the next steps in their respective careers.

 

BACK-TO-BACK FOR QUEENSLAND?

A stellar 12 months can be capped on Saturday night at Menangle when Jimartee contests the Inter Dominion Grand Final for trainers Cristina Monte and Charlie Cini.

Driven by Ricky Thurlow in 17 of his 19 starts since arriving in Queensland, the Group 1-winning reinsman will continue his association with the seven-year-old after forcing his way into the Final with a second in the final round of heats.

The win would give Queensland successive Inter Dominion titles following on from Leap To Fame’s victory in 'ID23' at Albion Park.

Facing a tricky barrier from gate seven, with four runners off the second line, finding position will be key to the gelding’s chances of featuring in the finish.

Don Hugo will line up as the favourite for trainer and driver Luke McCarthy.

The four-year-old has drawn well in gate three.

With a slot locked away in the Ultimate Driver Series to be held at 'The Creek' next year, Brad Hewitt will need to use all of his guile from inside the second line to get Captains Knock into a winning position.

The find of the series has been Dangerous.

The four-year-old is starting from barrier two for Shane Sanderson, a Queenslander now based in Victoria, and after a smart win in the last round, has the gate to be right in the action.

Cantfindabettorman and Blacksadance finished one and two in the 2023 ID Consolation and the pair will clash again in the 2024 Consolation.

Blacksadance has struggled to show his best form away from Albion Park, where all of his 28 career victories have been recorded, but he can look to gain some series redemption this week.

 

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE

He is one of the most progressive horses in training in the Sunshine State and Duke Of Scotland will look to take the next step of his career in the Christmas Cup.

Drawn nine of nine over the marathon 2680 metre trip, the Chantal Turpin-trained four-year-old has won six of nine starts since joining the metropolitan premiership leading trainers stable.

With wins by big margins at his past two starts, the latest win was a stylish effort when sent forward to sit parked from the 1000 metre point, before putting them away and pulling clear. 

He will have to tackle his last start winning stablemate Always Smokin, who has been in great form, including a last start win in 1.50.2 that saw him graduate to open company.

Tims A Trooper has shown steady improvement at each start since returning from a spell for Grant Dixon.

Classie Washington will line up from the inside gate.

The Daren Garrard-trained gelding has been kept fresh since his sixth in the Queensland Cup where he was slammed with a wide gate.

Classie Washington has opened the pipes in a recent trial hit-out with some smart closing splits.

Hot And Treacherous adds an extra layer of intrigue to the contest from gate three with his good speed out of the machine after fading from a tough run from gate seven last week.

 

CHRISTMAS REDEMPTION FOR GUS

It did not go to plan in the trotting Inter Dominion for Gus after making an error in the Newcastle heat and the talented square gaiter returned home to Queensland.

Trialling in impressive fashion in attempt to get his campaign back on track, his own individual time was faster than the current track record.

However, it will be a big ask to secure the Christmas Cup from the 30-metre back mark in the capacity field.

From the front line, the Darren Weeks-trained Get Used To It will be looking to defy his inexperience and take a big stride towards a potential Inter Dominion campaign in 2025 when the series heads to Queensland.

A veteran of just 12 career starts, the five-year-old has won his past three in succession.

The latest of which was under standing start conditions where he had a front line handicap.

Again, drawn on the front line, if he can stay out of trouble and clear of the traffic, he has shown that he has the class to take the step up.

Last start winner Zealous Spur will start from the 20-metre tape following a tough victory when parked last week at the 2138 metres.

Victree Hill also boasts the right credentials from his 20-metre handicap to play his part.

 

GET ON

Mossdale Terry.

Draws the right gate to make his presence felt and importantly his opposition look a shade below those he has clashed with of late.

Freshened since a last start second from inside the second line, conditions look right.