Victory in The Hayden grants the winner entry to The Eureka via the Racing Queensland slot and over the past week, several horses stepped forward to undoubtedly pique the interest of some slot holders.
Ellis Street was back in winning form for trainer Murray Thomas when stomping out a big mile from the front to set a new career PB, stopping the clock in 1.52.3 for the mile.
As a three-year-old, he will gain barrier advantage and with three wins this season, his chances of gaining a slot will improve if able to capture the QBRED Breeders Classic this weekend.
Quik Change secured his first three-year-old victory after an interrupted start to his three-year-old season and with the connections of the Graham Dwyer trained gelding owning a slot, it was a timely return to form.
The Grant Dixon trained Free Thinker put his name to the fore when scoring a dominant win from barrier seven, sent forward to find the front and run a strong mile to set a new PB of 1.53.2.
A contestant in last year’s Hayden, the biggest query for the Seymour’s (Solid Earth) connections is which slot they can potentially run under.
Another Solid Earth owned runner that gave her chances of slot selection a boost, was Cheer Leader which was able to claim her first win this season when claiming a mare’s qualifier on Saturday night.
For Real Life bounced back from a shock first up defeat for Trent Dawson at the same meeting, charging hard along the passing lane after looking to be in a forlorn position.
Dawson owns barrier five in The Hayden and having his stable star back in winning form was a timely boost as the Constellations approach.
At Menangle, implications for The Great Square prevailed in the New South Wales Trotters Derby, however, if anything it left the situation more clouded than prior to the race.
Keayang Zahara annexed the Oaks/Derby double when unleashing her powerful finishing burst to score, defeating Pinnie for trainer Andy Gath.
Of the Queensland trained trio, it was the Shane Graham trained Agent Black that secured the best placing, holding on for third after showing good early speed to lead, Ajay Volstead chased home for fifth, while Head Em Up threw his chances away a with a gate break.
Unbeaten in three starts, four-year-old Franco Promachos was resuming from a spell for trainer Dean Braun and started an odds-on favourite in the third race.
Forced to sit parked throughout the 2300-metre trip, the son of A Rocknroll Dance was game in defeat as the Seaton Grima trained and driven Classy Operator led throughout.
A Constellations Carnival is being considered for Franco Promachos, while Grima will have up to six runners campaigning in Queensland for the Carnival, headed by recent Goulburn Cup winner Don Lou.
The first race on Tuesday at The Creek saw a new track record established for trotters over the 2138 standing start, eclipsing the previous mark held by Our Overanova which had stood for eight years.
Four-year-old gelding Hide And Seek, trained by Shannon Price has proven to be enigmatic in his 17-start career, however, there is no doubting his ability.
The four-year-old was at his best with a 1.58.7 rate for the 2138 standing start, boosting his Great Square hopes with the dominant victory.