$25m dual code complex plan welcome

What can be gleaned from the plan view is that the highly functional format of the defunct Parklands complex has been retained with added extras.

Denis Smith. Picture: David Nielsen

THE hopes of Joe Average harness and greyhound participants rose considerably on Thursday morning.

The Gold Coast Bulletin broke the news that construction of a $25 million dual code complex with M1 access, at Mudgeeraba near the Gold Coast hinterland, is under serious consideration.

What can be gleaned from the plan view is that the highly functional format of the defunct Parklands complex has been retained with added extras.

The dogs would have two tracks as mooted, a central grandstand and the harness track to the other side.

The land area is some 54 hectares and offers great scope.

Hopefully, more detail will be available shortly.

The situation is looking a whole lot better.

Sponsor's reward

MAJOR Marburg sponsor Craig Whiteoak hit a high spot last Tuesday when his latest pacing acquisition won on debut at Albion Park.

Some Excuse Somewhere is a four win ex-Kiwi from the stable of Mark Jones, now trained and reined by the firm of Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen at Patrick estate.

Some Excuse Somewhere was impressive in recording a mile rate of 1-54.7.

Whiteoak, who described the victory as "a massive thrill'', can look forward to many more trips to the winner's circle with the rising five-year-old.

The owner has a history in Queensland harness having cut his teeth looking over the fence at Rocklea as a 13-year- old in 1985.

He bought his first pacer in 1998 but a lot of "four-legged water" went under the bridge before the first winner surfaced in 2004 at Albion Park, in the shape of So Dare Me (Alastair Barnes).

Whiteoak's best horse to date has been Riverleigh Rocket, a 2600 metre type prepared by Redcliffe-based Darren Hooper.

This may change.

Whiteoak is a crusader for racing format change, having a strong preference for more distance events, and a desire to see many more standing starts.

He finds the eternal round of 1660m and 2100m races very boring.

Wish granted

ONE thing that every harness trainer wants is Saturday night winners.

Ironbark-based Karen Schulz, who puts a lot of thought into her training regime, got her wish last Saturday night when Beau Cishlom got the biscuits in tradesman-like style in a rate of 1-55.8.

One race later, the Schulz team mainstay Soldier Of Fortune went down by a neck robbing K Schulz of a double.

Danielle McMullen had the reins in both cases.

Soldier Of Fortune gets a chance to go one better in the last race tonight, again from the coveted inside barrier.

MPA moving on

THE recent elevation of the Marburg Pacing Association to the status of a "Tier 2" race club in the Racing Queensland scheme of things, is some recognition for 38 years of continuous service to harness in the Sunshine State.

The "Tier 2" description (clubs hosting between nine and 20 meetings per season) brings with it a heavier burden of compliance requirements.

Marburg is addressing these requirements within the deadlines as set.

From this exercise four core goals have emerged.

The MPA now has a determination to increase on-track attendance, a determination to introduce new people into the participant ranks as owners, trainers and drivers (preferably as a combination of all three interests), a determination to rebuild the image of harness racing, and a determination to revitalise the trials service.

What we could once achieve with a squad of volunteers, will now require a platoon. So intending members should contact Karen Schulz (karen [e-mail]) or me ([e-mail]).

A $10 annual fee gets you a 40% discount at the gate on race day.

Handy tips

SELECTIONS for Albion Park tonight.

R1: Box trifecta 1-4-8 - Classy Guy (D McMullen)-Slice Of Heaven (N Dawson)-Uncle Peter (A Frisby).

R2: E/w 2 - None Bettor (M Elkins).

R3: E/w 1 - Mr Meddle (H Barnes).

R4: Quinella 2-5 - Bring On Lefty (A Richardson) and Sicilian Slumber (P McMullen).

R5: Quinella 1-12 - Monkseaton (C Petroff) and Grinvil (P McMullen).

R6: Quinella 5-6: January (D Weeks) and Sweet As (A Sanderson).

R7: Quinella 4-7 - Chal Fire (K Dawson) and Code Bailey (D McMullen).

R8: Box trifecta 3-10-11 - Rostevarren (N Dawson)-Maybe To The Max-Spud (C Petroff).

R9: Quinella 3-5 - Watch Pulp Fiction (H Barnes) and Glenferrie Hood (P McMullen).

R10: Quinella 1-2 - Soldier Of fortune (Danielle McMullen) and Novena Rose (A Sanderson).

Honour board

The leader board is stable again with Nathan Dawson rating 350 from seven wins, just shading Pete McMullen with 300 from six. Darrell Graham is still the top trainer with a solid four winners for the term. Most pleasing was Ken and Dale Belford with a winner apiece.

Ipswich factor: 23/44.

Albion Park, August 10: Ima Morven Lad (Danielle McMullen for Ryan Veivers); Tell The Linesmen (Nathan Dawson for Darrell Graham); Tact Allie (Jacob Wallace for Darrell Graham); Machitelli (Adam Sanderson for Darrell Graham); Daneirys Stormborn (Adam Sanderson).

Albion Park, August 11: Beau Cishlom (Danielle McMullen for Karen Schulz); Glenferrie Baby (Kelli Dawson for Geoff Dawson); Darkershadesofpale (Trent Dawson for Craig Cross); Glenferrie Hood (Pete McMullen for Wayne Graham); Slice Of Heaven (Nathan Dawson for Donny Smith); Escalera (Darrell Graham).

Albion Park, August 14: Valiant Gem (Adam Richardson for Donny Smith); Some Excuse Somewhere (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).

Redcliffe, August 15: Hot Dogma (Matt Elkins for Ross Fletcher); Its Megs (Nathan Dawson for Daren Garrard); Bells Beach House (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin); Just Joshin (Pete McMullen for Josh Moore); Mollys Secret (Nathan Dawson for Shawn Grimsey).

Redcliffe, August 16: Non Passare (Pete McMullen for Ken Belford); Unassuming Champ (Nathan Dawson for Mitchell Dawson); Famous Shoes (Pete McMullen for Dale Belford); Precious Cullen (Nathan Dawson for Graham White); Hammerhoff (Nathan Dawson for John McMullen).

Originally published as $25m dual code complex plan welcome