Shining Stars June 6

Looking towards the 2024 Queensland Constellations, no star shone brighter than the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, Leap To Fame in the past week.

Grant Dixon’s star five-year-old resumed with a dominant display at The Creek over the mile, easing away from the inside of the second line at the start, moving around to sit parked for the last 1100 metres and grinding out a 1.51.5 victory to maintain his winning streak which now sits at 12 in succession.

A 1.51.7 rate by For Real Life on a rain affected track was a career PB for Trent Dawson’s star four-year-old the classy entire claiming the 14^th win of his career when leading throughout.

For Real Life has a busy Constellations agenda with three potential targets of the Queensland Sun, Rising Sun and The Hayden.

Eye Keep Smiling was another impressive winner with upcoming Constellation targets, the Luke McCarthy trained and reined four-year-old mare was never out of second gear with her win and could potentially be headed towards the Rising Sun as well as the Golden Girl.

For Real Life

Hi Manameisjeff signalled he will be a force in the Sunshine Sprint for trainer Jason Grimson when winning impressively first up from a spell at Menangle.

Finding the front soon after the start, the seven-year-old under the guidance of driver Jack Callaghan was never in danger in the 1.51.3 victory.

A number of potential Constellations hopefuls were left in his wake, with the four -year-old Montalbano for Rickie Alchin grabbing second the best of the beaten runners.

At Melton, Perfect Class might have done enough to earn a ticket on the plane to the Sunshine State for Clayton Tonkin, the four-year-old winning impressively first up.

Runner-up to Frankie Ferocious in the Bonanza in February, his last race start before spelling was a 3^rd in the Melton Plate behind The Lost Storm.

If connections of Shes Ruby Roo opt to target The Great Square, a perfect travelling companion could be the stablemate One Over All, which could contest the Trotters Sprint and Queensland Trotters Cup.

Defeating some handy types including ID23 Finalist Ollivici, the Jess Tubbs trained, and Greg Sugars driven six-year-old made it successive Melton victories as he closes in on $300,000 in career earnings.

Trials over the past week have seen some impressive performances and Rising Sun invitee Frankie Ferocious was one of those with a sharp piece of work at Menangle, rating 1.52.7 stamped with closing splits of 27.5 | 26.9.

Here at The Creek, Monday’s trial session saw Classie Washington in his second run since the ID23 Final and the Daren Garrard trained seven-year-old looked sharp taking out the trial and finishing strongly with a 27.4 last split.

From that same trial, the group winning Not To Be Denied finished in third place, the Luke McCarthy trained mare eyeing off the Golden Girl.

Frankie Ferocious

Some horses to watch this week from a Constellations Carnival perspective.

The Creek Saturday

R1- Free Thinker, Regazzo Di Tilly

R3- Aardies Flash, Captain Shuffles

R4- Aroda, Cantfindabettorman, Leap To Fame

R7- Air Express, In Excess, Quik Change

R9- Cheer Leader, Not To Be Denied

Menangle Saturday

R1- Captains Knock, No Heart Throb

R5- Fire Fox, Malcolms Rhythm, Swayzee

R6- Aardies Express, Illavabubbles, Tay Tay

R8- London To A Brick, Royal Dan

Melton Saturday

R2- Shes Ruby Roo, Rockinwithattitude

R6- Hesallmuscle, The Locomotive