Our Overanova Honoured

Tonight’s feature race will be the Our Overanova marathon, the race named to honour the greatest trotters to be trained in Queensland.

Arriving with the Grant Dixon stable as a one-win performer in 2013, the son of Monarchy retired in 2021 with the remarkable figures of 203: 64-34-27, earning stakes of $522,333 in his career for owner Greg Mitchell.

While much of his racing was for the Dixon stable, Our Overanova spent some periods interstate, winning races for Belinda McCarthy and Shane Sanderson and placed at Group level when prepared by Michael Stanley.

However, it was for Dixon’s and at The Creek where he excelled and was such a consistent performer over an extended period, retiring with 51 Albion Park victories, only Destreos recording more wins at The Creek.

The only trotter to win two Darrel Alexander Championships, 21 of his victories at The Creek came when starting from a handicap of 40- metres or greater and most Saturday nights, he would invariably be in the last race of the night.

Ten different drivers had race night success aboard Our Overanova, eight of those driving the gelding to success at The Creek.

Adam Sanderson, Isobel Ross, Kylie Rasmussen, Paul Diebert, Peter Greig and Robbie Morris all had one victory, while Trista Dixon secured three wins in 2013, 2017 and 2020 aboard Nova.

It was Grant Dixon that had the greatest success aboard his favourite trotter, claiming 42 wins around the Albion Park oval behind his start square gaiter, including a memorable victory at his last ever race start on July 31, 2021.

A win by Zealous Spur would be a fitting victory in the Our Overanova marathon, the gelding trained by Dixon and owned by Greg Mitchell Racing.

The seven-year-old is a six-time winner at The Creek and comes into the race following a third last week behind Majestic Lavros.

However, it will be Gus and Pete McMullen and Adelle with Chloe Butler taking the reins that look the main dangers.

After securing victory in the McNeil Championship Final two weeks back, Gus will be looking to add the Trotters Marathon to his small but burgeoning list of achievements.

Still lightly raced, the Chantal Turpin trained square gaiter progressed to the Inter Dominion Final at just his 16^th career start.

The five-year-old was a dominant winner in the McNeil when sent forward with 1000 metres to run, taking control and scoring a strong victory.

The scratching of Defensive Guy could change the race shape, with the Matt Crone trained six-year-old starting favourite for the recent McNeil Final.

“I don’t think it will change what happens too much,” McMullen said when assessing the race.

“We are happy with him, and the standing start suits him.

“The two miles should not be a problem, he seems to handle the longer races, his speed is certainly his better asset, but he handles what he has been asked to do.

“If anything, I might need a reminder to keep count of the laps” McMullen joked about the three-lap contest.

Adelle was making up late ground last week, attacking the line strongly over the mobile mile, and is another that should not find any issue with the marathon trip.

Nine races are set down with the Our Overanova Marathon, Race 6 at 7.55pm.

The first race will jump at 5.03pm.