Brooklyn Dan and Sparkling Sea impress in their Trial wins

Top colt Brooklyn Dan (Captain Crunch) threw out a strong challenge for next week’s Queensland Derby when he scored a courageous harness racing win in the $20,000 Queensland Derby Trial at Albion Park on Friday evening.

One of three runners for prominent trainer Emma Stewart Brooklyn Dan was heavily supported into a firm favourite. However he was caught wide early as his stable mate Cardigan Dan booted up to keep the inside to hold out the lead. At one stage Brooklyn Dan was nearly four wide but driver Cameron Hart pressed on and once he was given the lead he certainly looked the one to beat.

Cardigan Dan had the trail behind the leader while the well credentialled Palladium was caught outside the leader with Major Blitz three back on the rails and Rewatch four back on the fence.

BROOKLYN DAN 10 JUL REPLAY

The pace was kept brisk when another Victorian Luvtobeuptome made a run in the straight for the bell to put some pressure on Brooklyn Dan.

Brooklyn Dan ran his third quarter in 27.2 seconds as he appeared to have his rivals struggling. Major Blitz was being held up and Rewatch was forced to go to the outside. Understandably Brooklyn Dan was getting tired in the home straight but he showed enough determination to hold off the fast finishing Rewatch just ahead of Major Blitz and Cardigan Dan.

Brooklyn Dan has been a model of consistency and connections will be looking to avenge his third placing to Hollywood Strip in the Nutrien Three Year old final at Wagga at the end of May.

The Group 1 $150,000 Queensland Derby will have a star studded field including outstanding youngster Hollywood Strip, Nymbal and Fire And Passion. But if Brooklyn Dan is able to get the front without doing too much early work he will be hard to beat. Both Rewatch and Major Blitz finished strongly to issue claims for selection in the Final field.

In the Oaks Qualifying Trial David Hewitt’s brilliant filly Sparkling Sea (Lather Up) absolutely blitzed her rivals in a devastating display of sheer speed.

In a fast run race, Schooners from the outside of the front row burned across to take up the running. Sparkling Sea who was wide was allowed to be balanced up by her driver Brad Hewitt, made her move early to eventually get to the lead.

Favourite Bettor Beach from her second row draw had only three runners behind her on settling down but driver Mark Pitt had her one out and not too far back from the leaders. The well performed Riverina filly Seaside Boulevard was three back on the rails. When Beachbabe Crocker pulled out three wide at the bell Bettor Beach took a trail up towards the leaders.

SPARKLING SEA 10 JUL REPLAY

However Sparkling Sea started to put a gap between herself and the other runners. Bettor Beach started to make a run but as stewards reported she contacted a sulky and was checked which then caused a flat tyre. Consequently she seemed to get going again but at this stage Sparkling Sea had cleared away to well and truly space her opponents.

At the finish Sparkling Sea had over 25 metres to spare over Seaside Boulevard who finished well enough for second while Degarmea Teale came from near last to get third.

Sparkling Sea took all before her earlier in her career but in the Gold Bracelet Final she finished down the track for sixth while in the New South Wales Oaks Final she had a torrid run before finishing sixth to Arrythmia.

Sparkling Sea possesses a great turn of speed and like Brooklyn Dan if she has a favourable front row draw she will be hard to be beat. In contrast Bettor Beach who looked every inch a star in the making when had won her previous start at Melton suffered a check at the crucial stage of the event and never looked likely.

Seaside Boulevard is racing in great heart and deserves a start in next weeks Group 1 $150,000 Queensland Oaks while Degarmea Teale now trained by Chantal Turpin could sneak a run as well on the strength of her performance.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink