By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
After setting a season goal of 300 wins, Glamorgan Vale reinsman, Nathan Dawson, has now set an all-time driving record in Queensland.
“I’ve had a dream-season and there’s still plenty of drives yet in 2023. I told my trainers and owners at the start of the year I was chasing 300, and they helped me achieve that. They have been so supportive.
“Now I want 400,” said Dawson who cracked the 300 at Albion Park just 10 days before his record-breaking drive.
The gifted 27-year-old nailed his 316th winner for the season beating older cousin and fellow Queenslander, Peter McMullen’s (32) all-time season record of 315 victories – set in 2021. The cousins are the only two Queenslanders to have ever surpassed 300 driving successes in a season.
The milestone occurred in race four at Redcliffe Paceway last Wednesday night (October 4), when Dawson got the Donny Smith trained $2.40 favourite, Stormtide, home by 5.6 metres.
In fact, 145 of his season victories have been at ‘The Triangle’.
“I enjoy racing at Redcliffe, and I’ve had quite a few wins behind the horse now. I’m pleased for Donny and the owners. The season couldn’t get any better. I think my quality of drives has got better,” said Dawson who added he was looking forward to representing his State at the Australian Driving Championships in Tasmania on October 21.
It was a typical patient Dawson drive which ensured the Mach Three gelding’s 16th win in 94 starts ($96,886) for the Thirgood family.
Dawson settled the 6-year-old last (three back and two out) going down the back straight the last time. Then they got a drag into the race, before hitting the lead around the final corner.
Dawson has since driven two more winners (317) since his record achieving feat, and now sits well clear on the National Driving Premiership a whopping 103 wins clear of Western Australian, Gareth Hall Junior (214) on the National Driving Premiership. Victorian James Herbertson is third with 196 wins, while McMullen is fourth with 177.
McMullen won the Australian Driving Premiership last year with 266 wins, while Dawson was third with 235. The year prior McMullen set his own record-breaking 315 wins, while his cousin was second with 238.
So, with his first National Driving Premiership in the bag, and with 277 days gone in 2023 – and Dawson driving more than a winner-a-day – can he get to a once unimaginable 400 wins in a season?
“That’s the aim now. I’m driving at more than one winner a day, so if I can keep going I might get there. If I do I can’t stress enough it’s been a team effort with all the trainers and owners,” Dawson said.
All up in a driving career spanning back to the 2011-2012 season, Dawson has driven 1,715 winners and 2,832 placings from 11,834 drives. His stake earnings currently site at $10.6 million.
He has won three Group One races – namely his first behind the Aileen Smith trained Jiggle And Jive in the 2019 Qbred Triad 2yo Fillies Final; then the Shawn Grimsey trained Teddy Disco in the 2021 Garrards Redcliffe Yearling Sale Series 2yo Final at Redcliffe Paceway’ and the Jarrod Alchin trained My Ultimate Levi in the 2021 Brisbane APG 2yo Sales Graduates Final.
Dawson’s 317 winners in 2023 have come from 1,630 starters, 411 placings and he has netted a personal best $2.32m in purses. His previous best was 255 wins ($1.7m) in the 2019-2020 season.
Meanwhile, the Redcliffe-based part-owner of Stormtide, Shondell Thirgood, had this to say about the win.
“He’s more than just a good driver, he’s just an all-round great guy. Even though ‘Stormy’s’ a good horse, it’s always so exciting when Nathan takes the reins. He’s also never too busy to give two of my kids a few pointers or tips,” she said.
Meanwhile, Redcliffe Harness Racing Club President, Bernie Ring said it was an honour to have Nathan achieve the milestone at ‘The Triangle’. He has driven many winners behind many good horses over the years
“Nathan is an exceptional driver, and the Club congratulates him hugely on this great achievement. We will arrange a trophy,” Ring said.
