“BORDER TROTS” 19/09/2022.
How long is a drought. Last week, Thagoona based trainer/ driver, Dallas Wilkins, broke a ten and a half year dry spell in the registered racing department stretching back to April 2012. On that occasion, the steed was Surfnturf, and the venue was Marburg. This time, the track was Redcliffe, and it was the first time DW had driven winner at the triangle in a lengthy career, The pacer was the homebred, Could It Be Me which started favourite, and registered it’s first win. It was total involvement for the well known horseman, who is recognised as a skilful breaker and educator of standardbreds, going back many years. The 5year old gelded son of Shadow Play and Phoebes Grin, had had a good grounding on the recent show circuit including the recent EKKA, with several heat wins and quite a few starts. Aside from the satisfaction of breeding, owning, training and driving the four legged family member there was the much appreciated $14,000 Qbred First Bonus to go with the $3K,+ win prizemoney.
The following is taken from the Racing Queensland website and is the work of Jordan Gerrans, who writes “the trots” very well indeed.
“He becomes my first official winner as a trainer, breeder, owner and driver.
“It certainly was special for us.
“If it was not for the QBRED bonus, he might not have got to the races in his life as he was doing so much wrong, but that bonus kept us going.”
While the Thagoona-based Wilkins has driven in plenty of winners across his decades in the sport, Thursday’s victory was his first also as a licensed trainer.
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Dallas and Catherine have bred over 40 foals across their time in the industry, many of which they have gone on and raced.
For much of the time, the Wilkins’ have broken in the standardbred’s and got them nearly read to race, before handing the keys over to Ray Cross.
Veteran Cross previously trained in the Sunshine State before relocating to Victoria in recent years.
While the Wilkins’ were a key part of the process over the time, Cross was the official trainer on race day, which resulted in Dallas only picking up his maiden victory as a trainer this week.
While Thursday’s result was the gelding’s first professional victory as a race horse, he has been successful on the show circuit, including at Toowoomba and the recent Ekka.
He also put in an excellent effort against Open Class horses when he was still a maiden at Warwick earlier this year, as well.
The gelding won the Maiden Pace over 1780 metres on Thursday but there was every chance earlier in his life that he would be targeted at trotting events.
The five-year-old was trained as a trotter for around three and a half years, with his trainer noting he could barely pace at all in his early days.
And, while he could trot, he did not ever trot fast enough for the Wilkins’ to think it was going to be a viable racing option.
“One day when I was jogging him on the jogger, he made the fatal mistake of breaking into a pace for about 50 yards,” Dallas recalls.
“I thought that was time to make him a pacer.
“That is why he has taken so long, being a five-year-old and only having eight or so starts.
“He took a little while to get him pacing but we got him there eventually.”
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Reflecting back on the decision, Dallas says the family were torn as to if they were to continue with the racing venture or give him away to become a riding pony as he was such a “lovely horse under saddle”.
They are ecstatic that they stuck with the pacer they refer to “Leeroy” around their barn.
“To achieve the result, I went to the races on Thursday not expecting to win, I was just hoping he would run up to last week’s effort,” Dallas said.
“He started to learn what it is all about last week.
“If he kept going on that path – but did not win - I would have been happy with that.
“But, when he went that extra bit, I was over the moon, it was one of my best moments achievement wise that I have had in harness racing.”
After running third earlier this month at The Triangle at $151, Leeroy was backed into favouritism in the opening event on Thursday and he provided his loyal followers with the cash.
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Nathan Dawson, back from suspension and back at the top of the drivers tree with five wins, Matt Elkins and Hayden Barnes hot on his tail with just one less apiece. Four trainers registering two successes, Tayla Gillespie, Lacey Hinze, Chantal Turpin , and Ron Sallis being the multiple scorers. Most pleasing ,Brad Forge, another drought breaker. Ipswich Factor 31/46.
Resultsville. Albion Park 13/09. Wewillseehowego (Hayden Barnes for Chantal Turpin). Paris Kay (Nathan Dawson for Graham Dwyer). The Shady One(Matt Elkins). Sky Blu Nathan Dawson for Jason Carkeet). Warfare (Nathan Dawson for Greg Franklin). Itz Cherokee Jack (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin). The Maharani (Pete McMullen for Darren McCall). Redcliffe 14/09. Misty Creek (Hayden Barnes for Lola Weidemann). Wavedancer (Pete McMullen for Billy Moore). Just One Good One (Lachie Manzelmann for Lacey Hinze). Our Friend (Clint Sneddon for John Striha). Gamekeeper (Angus Garrard for Kay Crone). Redcliffe 15/09. Could It Be Me (Dallas Wilkins). Tulhurst Cuddles (David McKenzie). Onlys Best (Matthew Neilson for Murray Thomas). Wheres Tascott (Angus Garrard for Steve Towns). Charlevoix (Ricky Gordon). Prince Joy (Narissa McMullen for Tayla Gillespie). High On Montana. (Lachie Manzelmann for Lacey Hinze). Albion Park 16/09. Harry Kane (Hayden Barnes). Gosling In Flight (Brendan Barnes for Darren Ebert). Only One Don (Brad Forge). Hez Perfectly Ideal (Narissa McMullen). Bourbon On the Rocks (Matt Elkins for Tayla Gillespie). Albion Park 17/09. Glenledi Boy (Nathan Dawson for Melissa gillies). Mollies Maryelle 9Matt Elkins for Mark rees). Northview Hustler (Hayden Barnes for Brendan Barnes). Swayzee (Adam sanderson forTim Butt). Mummys Boy (Nathan Dawson for Colin Knox). Docta Feelgood (Matt Elkins for Vic Frost). Ima Socialite (Lachie Manzelmann for Ron Sallis).
Hi Folks. Many thanks. Regards, Denis.
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