First taste of Group 1 glory

Harness racing trainer-driver Trent Dawson was not confident going into tonight’s $102,200 Group 1 Qbred Triad Final at Albion Park with Talent To Spare.

Drawing outside the second row in barrier 13, Dawson almost felt like the race was over before it began.

But the three-year-old filly lived up to her name and proved to Dawson there was nothing to worry about.

“I almost wrote us off from barrier 13 but she did all the work and got the job done,” an excited Dawson said after the race.

The victory was a special moment for Dawson’s career as it was his first Group 1 success as a trainer and a driver.

“It’s definitely what we dream of,” said Dawson.

To overcome the tricky draw, Dawson urged the daughter of Hurrikane Kingcole around the field to find the front in the early stages of the race.

Once dictating the pace, Talent To Spare clocked the last two quarters in 28.9 each to put her rivals more than five metres behind her in a mile rate of 1:56.1 in the 2138m test.

It was a sweet redemption after Talent To Spare broke gait in last year’s two-year-old edition.

“She was fantastic she did a power of work that first 600m,” said Dawson.

“She is just all guts . . . she has toughened up.

Raced by Solid Earth Pty Ltd, Talent To Spare extended her record to six wins and three seconds in 12 starts.

Watch the race replay below:

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink