By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
The Hanrahan siblings might live 150km apart, but they have combined forces to notch up their first ‘Hot Rods Trot’ winner at – their first attempt.
The ‘handlebars down – full throttle’ annual Trot Rods Series kicked off at Redcliffe Paceway on Wednesday (April 24) night. Pacers will again this year compete in 20 heats over one of the world’s shortest sprint journeys – the 947-metre (one lap) mobile.
And even though it was Neilson’s astute driving out in front, it was the combined pre-training from Martin and Nicole Hanrahan, who live at Redcliffe and Spring Creek respectively, that ensured victory in the first heat of the 2024 Series.
“If Mathew hadn’t got to the lead with Bustn Feelz Good at that first corner, I don’t think he would have won. We drew two (of five), and that’s where he had to be to have the best chance of victory. That was a top drive. I had the horse for about three weeks to prepare him for this Series. He’s a credit to Nikki.
“She works her team on a smaller track at Spring Creek and has done a good job with him. Bringing the gelding to Redcliffe allowed me to get 800m sprints into him every two or three days. He’s actually gone back to my sister’s stable today (Anzac Day), and will probably be aimed at another race in the Series, or Finals night,” Redcliffe-based Hanrahan said.
“It was all about sprint training for this race. He may come back to me. It’s something we will have to discuss” he added.
Nicole Hanrahan, who also trained $18 outsider, Mucho Gupapa (Lenny Cain). to win race six a day later at Redcliffe (Thursday April 25), said it was good to be working in tandem with her older brother.
“I’m so grateful to Martin for what he’s done with this gelding. We haven’t always got along. In fact, we often have very different opinions on horses, but I don’t think that’s unusual when family are involved in the same sport.
“Martin did a splendid job in limited time with Bustn Feelz Good. He had him primed to win. Those 800m sprints topped him off nicely. I just can’t give them full-on sprints like that on the smaller 600m track here track runs both up and downhill,” Nikki said.
Big bro, Hanrahan works two pacers at ‘The Triangle’, while his 49-year-old siter trains five at Spring Creek – 18km from Gatton and 110km south west of Brisbane. She is also full-time Mum to 6-year-old Destinee, while her brother has a 9 year old daughter Amelia and an older son James.
Hanrahan (Nikki) said her Always A Virgin 11-win mare, Crossed Legs, was her favourite horse, but fellow 9-year-old, Bustn Feelz Good, was a close second.
“I absolutely love him. He’s got the best personality and has no idea how old he is, so I’ll just keep on racing him. How could I not after Wednesday’s Trot Rods win.
“I’ve still got a huge smile on my face a couple of days after the races. I’ve always loved the ‘Trot Rods Series’. It’s something different and something I’ve always watched. I always wanted to have a horse compete in the Series – and now that we’ve won a heat I’m over the moon,” Hanrahan said.
“Yes he will have another start in the Series, but probably another race or two before then. I’ll talk to Martin closer to our next heat,” said owner Hanrahan (Nicole)..
Neilson took Bustn Feelz Good straight to the front from barrier two on Wednesday. That was the winning of the race. The black son of Mr Feelgood, led them all the way pacing the 947m mobile in 66.9 seconds with 28.5 and 29.2 final quarters. The $6.50-third favourite and won by 3.3 metres.
In the second of the two heats, the Ricky Gordon-trained and Amanda Payne-driven Lord Denzil was 0.7 of a second slower, winning by half-a-head won in 67.6.
Last year the Trent Moffat trained Vanity Bay recorded the fastest time of 63.8 seconds. It came in the 17th of the 20 heats on the final night on May 24.Aroda’s time of 64.6 seconds was the second quickest of that Series. That Grant Dixon trained and driven 3yo colt set that mark in heat five on May 3.
Vanity Bay’s time was the second quickest ever recorded in four years of the Trot Rods Series. Ricky Thurlow trained and Cam Hart driven Just Dessy set the quickest time of 63.4 seconds in 2022.
Bustn Feelz Good has now raced 136 times for 18 wins, 23 placings and $78,761, since making his debut second at Leeton on January 2, 2028. Hanrahan (Martin) said the Kennedy-bred gelding was initially trained by David Kennedy at Narrandera, before his Redcliffe trainer, Merv Hieronymus, took over in December 2018.
“We knew Merv pretty well, and Nikki got the chance to train Bustn Feelz Good in 2021 (September) and he’s won a few races since, including two this season.”
Nikki has been conditioning horses since the 1992-1993 season. She’s had 821 starters for 49 wins and placed 130 times. Her best season was last year when she trained eight winners. Nikki is already half-way to that total.
“Our parents weren’t born into harness racing, although my Dad always had an interest in the horses and trained himself from our old property at Pimpama. I’ve always liked racing and got into the sport in my late teens when Nikki was working for Alan Donohoe. I love harness racing. It’s a passion and hobby which I enjoy doing” said Hanrahan, who is married to Meredith Krieger.
As for dedicated Mum, Nikki, here’s a story I wrote on the astute horsewoman back in November 2022:
https://duanerangerharnessracing.com/nikki-hanrahans-season-keeps-getting-better/
TROT RODS 2024:
Throughout April and May, Redcliffe Paceway will host weekly heats each Wednesday, culminating in a finale night on Wednesday May 29, with 10 Trot Rods races to be showcased on a dedicated SKY 2 broadcast. The winner cops a $10,000 cash bonus and Otto Tuza 3 horse float on offer for the quickest lap across the 20 heats.
