Will the Albion Park track record be officially lowered this Saturday night?

While there are no prizes for holding the quickest mark around a circuit, it's quite the achievement to set records, particularly at a metropolitan level.

BLACKSADANCE is the fastest pacer to scorch around the 1019m ‘Creek’ circuit, setting a mark of 1:50min when saluting back in April, and he will be looking to defend that mark when he lines up in tomorrow night’s Sunshine Sprint.

It was only a few weeks ago that I CAST NO SHADOW lit up the track under trial conditions when clocking an entire second quicker, and he will start from the inside alley in Queensland’s premier sprint contest.

The Jess Tubbs duo of BETTER ECLIPSE and TRIPLE EIGHT both raced extremely well at their first Albion Park attempt last Saturday night and have drawn alongside each other in gates four and five respectively.

Greg Sugars has decided to stick with Better Eclipse after his gallant second in last week's The Rising Sun and the TAB support has followed, seeing him into clear favouritism on Thursday.

The race map is quite the jigsaw puzzle with several drawn off the front row not noted gate speed types, aside from TURN IT UP.

Purposefully set for this race off the freshen, the son of Courage Under Fire is explosive off the arm and looks the likely early leader from a very kind draw of three. Does Shane Graham chance his arm for an all-the-way victory? Or does he force one of his main rivals a spot further back and elect to take cover?

It's fair to say that current TAB Blacks A Fake favourite Spirit Of St Louis was below his best in last week’s Mr Feelgood Open behind Triple Eight when seemingly having every opportunity after staying out of a frantic lead time. His two performances prior were copy book, so connections and backers alike will be hoping he can bounce back seven days out from Queensland’s Grand Circuit feature.

With his gate speed and current form both big positives, I am staying loyal to the locals with Turn It Up the hardest to beat in the Garrards Sunshine Sprint and marking his major dangers as Better Eclipse, Spirit Of St Louis and I Cast No Shadow.  


We were all crossing our fingers that last week’s The Rising Sun demolition job wouldn’t be the last time we saw pacing queen LADIES IN RED this carnival. Well, maybe all aside from her on-track rivals.

After initially forming part of Monday’s nominations, she was subsequently taken out before the barrier draw which paved the way for her stablemate MAAJIDA to take dominant favouritism.

Already the winner of more than $680,000 in her glittering career, the three-time Vicbred Super Series champion looks primed for further Group 1 success after drawing the inside gate for the second running of the Golden Girl.

Almost arrogant in last week’s Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes, she walked through a middle 800m in 61.4sec before leaving a quality field of mares in her wake to win untouched.

With Mark Pitt making his way north to reacquaint with the superstar mare, he will also partner BEYOND DELIGHT in an exceptional edition of the Four-Year-Old Championships earlier in the night.


JEWEL MELODY is already a two-time Group 1-winning juvenile and she looks primed to make it three this season when she lines up as an extremely short-priced favourite in the $150,000 Albion Park Gold.

Dealing with her rivals in a prelude last Friday, she will only need to repeat the dose to taste success at the highest level once again.

MY ULTIMATE JACKO chased gamely in that prelude but will have to overcome a second-row draw, while MAYWYNS LA NINA will be doing her best from the inside gate to hold onto some minor money.

With group features making up seven events on the 10-race card, it is a bumper entrée to next week's TAB Blacks A Fake.

Once again, you won’t miss a minute of the action on Sky Racing Active with myself, Ryan Phelan, Greg O’Connor and Chris Barsby providing extensive pre and post-race analysis, alongside key participant interviews.

Make sure to download the App on your smart device to join us!


BEST of the weekend – R2 N11 @ Albion Park – Amore Vita 

VALUE of the weekend – R8 N3 @ Albion Park – Turn It Up


Brittany Graham is a regular host on Sky Racing and the Sky Racing Active app, plus In The Gig with Ben Way and Gareth Hall every Tuesday night on Sky Racing 2 from 6pm.


The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.