I start off this week with an apology. As happens on occasions we attribute a winning performance to the wrong individual, be it horse, trainer or driver. French Lesson got the bikkies at Redcliffe trained by T Gillespie and driven by harness racing's Brittany Graham.
The trainer in this instance was Tayla Gillespie and it was her was first success as a trainer with French Lesson her seventh runner.
Only licensed in early December last year, Tayla has gone close to the money with Ride On A Rainbow running second the previous Wednesday night at start number six.
The tally of starters now stands at nine as of Thursday with Ride On A Rainbow adding another Wednesday night second to the total.
Tayla, who does a bit of part-time work at a Minden cafe to keep her cash reserves up, has nine horses at work jogging at Prenzlau and fast work at Marburg.
Among these are the mare Any Left and the ex-Sydney trotter Cyclone Jake, a gelding which will make its presence felt in the square-gaiters events.
There is also an unnamed two-year-old showing enough promise to be aimed at Redcliffe Sale Race.
The 20-year-olds ambition is to develop an elite team of horses with a view of being a force in Saturday night racing.
With this in mind, the opening gambit is to start French Lesson in a 'band' race next Saturday night.
The never ending message which comes out of any harness racing administration is "we must get young people into the game".
Easier said than done, but one lass from the Minden / Prenzlau area has become involved in a significant and successful fashion.
Tayla looks set to ride on a rainbow of her own making.
Aldred has hands full
It is said "the devil makes work for idle hands".
If that is the case, former operations manager (harness) David Aldred is in line for sainthood.
From his former position, Aldred has been handed the poison chalice of liaison officer between Racing Queensland and the state's 109 country race clubs.
It conjures up visions of someone in a central position in the pen, trying to feed several litters of weaner pigs that weren't fed yesterday.
'Pandemonium' doesn't do it justice.
Whatever Racing Queensland is paying, it could not be enough.
However, Aldred is a first-class administrator and will no doubt come out a winner.
At what personal cost we will not know.
Changes to races
For fans of the trotter, there will be some calendar, format and prizemoney adjustments to the two major features, the Darrell Alexander Memorial and the Jim McNeil Memorial.
These changes will be known soon.
Marburg's next races are February 13, watch this space.
Handy tips
Selections for Albion Park tonight:
R1 E/w 3: Artzone (T Dawson).
R2: E/w 1: Bennys Ace (M Nielson).
R3: Quinella 3-8: Superliner (A Sanderson) and Feel the Courage (P McMullen).
R4: Quinella 1-10: Deano Robyn (G Dixon) and Regal Point (M Nielson).
R5: E/w 1: Long Term Fella (L Weidemann).
R6: E/w 2: Lord Jones (A Sanderson).
R7: E/w 8: Bad Jellys Courage (P Greig).
R8: Quinella 1-8: Lebron (P McMullen) and American Legend (B Cockburn).
R9: E/w 1: Midnight Lights (B Barnes).
R10: Quinella 3-9: Astral Traveller (P Greig) and Senitas Success (S Graham).
HONOUR BOARD
The leaderboard still shows lower Brisbane Valley bias, with Bill Crosby and Darrell Graham tying the trainers section on three winners a piece, while Gary Whitaker on four wins narrowly nosed out Nathan Dawson on three wins on the sulky.
Most pleasing efforts were Rafferty Delights (Dean Weller) and Lisas Lawyer with young Kiwi Jacob Wallace having a look at the winner's circle.
Gold Coast at Albion Park, January 22: Zac Mac (Hayden Barnes for Darren Hooper); Constantly Sideways (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby); Subtle Advice (Nathan Dawson for Don Hancock); Weedons Express (Kelly Dawson for Ray Law).
Albion Park, January 23: Five Card Draw (Darrell Graham); Galactic Eagle (Danielle McMullen for Shane Graham); Wandary Splash (Nathan Dawson for Kerry Smith); Withalotofluck (Barty Cockburn for Steve Cini); Glengowan (Trevor Lambourn for Rachel Scott); Feel the Courage (Pete for Chantal Turpin-McMullen); Lady White Water (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby).
Albion Park, January 26: Daenerys Targaryen (Adam Sanderson); Elzboy (Shane Graham for Steve Towns); Lord Jones (Brittany Graham for Darrell Graham).
Redcliffe, January 27: Feel Good Factor (Stacey Weidemann for Ron Sallis); Lifeontopoftheworld (Graham Whitaker for Ron Sallis); Stout (Danielle McMullen for John McMullen); Holly Furlong (Matt Elkins for Greg Elkins).
Gold Coast at Redcliffe, January 28: Stayintown Tonight (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby); Lisas Lawyer (Jacob Wallace for Darrell Graham); Georgia Grace (Adam Sanderson for Shaun Grimsey); Rafferty Delights (Dean Weller); King Grin (Mat Elkins for Greg Elkins); Annika Magic (Nathan Dawson for Kerry Smith).
Trot Tactics with QT columnist Denis Smith
Reprinted with permission of the Queensland Times