Tim O'Connor picks his favourite bits from the harness racing week that was and the one ahead...
THE HERO
JORDAN LEEDHAM
Jordy deserves the title of this week’s hero after completing a sensational stretch in May where he won 16 races from 72 drives.
Leedham only returned from suspension on May 7 and chalked up two Saturday night doubles during a red-hot month in the sulky.
During May, Leedham won at a strike rate above 22 per cent and kick-started June with victories at Cranbourne and Charlton to take his tally to 41 triumphs for the season.
HOW GOOD WAS…
CELESTIAL DAYBREAK
The curtain has finally fallen on the career of one of the country’s most durable pacers.
Connections have decided to retire 13-year-old Celestial Daybreak after 446 starts, 60 wins and more than $225,000 in prizemoney.
The son of Dawn Ofa New Day was owned and trained to his first win by Jenni Lewis in 2016, and amazingly spent time with just two other trainers. They were South Australia’s Shane Loone (2017-2024) and Victoria’s Tori Hutchins (2024-2025).
Congratulations to Celestial Daybreak’s owners and breeders Steven and Michael Byrne on their horse’s wonderful career.
CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!
WARRAGUL CUP DAY
The fields are out for Warragul’s feature meeting of the season on Monday, June 9.
Seven races will take place on the King’s Birthday holiday, with the headline events being the Eddie Evison Memorial Warragul Trotters Cup and Downtowner Warragul Pacing Cup Final.
The first race is set to go at 12.53pm.
Click here for the full fields.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR...
JACKPOTS x 4!
The jackpot money has been spread out across four races this Saturday night at Melton.
The TAB has confirmed First 4 pools in races 1-4 will be boosted by $2,500.
POP THIS IN YOUR DIARY
A 10-DRIVER SHOWDOWN!
The annual Decron Noel Smith Memorial Horsham Invitational Drivers Championship will take place on Wednesday, June 11.
Chris Alford, Jackie Barker, Glen Craven, Matt Craven, Jason Lee, Jack Laugher, Jordan Leedham, Kerryn Manning, Michael Stanley and Chris Svanosio are the invitees, with five races expected to decide the overall winner.
Read more about the meeting here.
ONE FOR THE BLACK BOOK
ATA RANGI
This bloke looks ready to win after another impressive placing at Cranbourne last Sunday.
Kyle Marshall’s gelding surged late from three back the pegs to run second behind Soho Darknstormy, and this followed a string of good runs after a win at Melton on April 4.
I’m sure a good draw and some tempo up front will see him crossing the line first once again.
SOMETHING TO PONDER
With an injury sidelining star mare Susan Is Her Name and boom supergaiter Keayang Zahara unlikely to participate, who is Victoria’s best chance of winning the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship in Queenland next month?
The Vics lost their stranglehold on the crown when New South Wales’ The Locomotive claimed the grand final last year at Menangle, and two of the state’s big chances for redemption are now set to miss the series.
To me, Arcee Phoenix is ready to take the step towards being this country’s premier squaregaiter and shapes as a great chance of adding an Inter Dominion title to his last-start win in the TAB Trot slot race at Cambridge.
He’s probably a little short on all-in markets at around $5.50, but he’s emerging as a powerhouse gelding and I’ll put him out there as my top pick ahead of the opening round of heats at Albion Park on July 5.
Who do you fancy?
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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.