HARNESS HERO MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW
COLT Thirty One confirmed his standing as one of the state’s greatest standardbreds after winning the top accolade at the 2020 TAB Queensland Harness Awards on Sunday night.
The Grant Dixon-trained pacer was crowned the TAB Queensland Harness Horse of the Year for a third straight time, edging out fellow finalists Governor Jujon and Majestic Simon following another remarkably consistent campaign.
From 34 starts in season 2019-20, the six-year-old claimed 14 wins and 13 placings, including three Group 3 races, as well as a triumph in the 2019 Group 2 Queensland Cup followed by a second placing in its 2020 iteration.
He also ran a formidable second placing to one of the nation’s premier pacers, King Of Swing, while attempting to defend his crown in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake, finishing the season amassing $276,849 in stakes.
Colt Thirty One was also named the Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year and the Albion Park Harness Racing
Club Horse of the Year. The son of Mach Three joins Blacks A Fake and Avonova as three-time Horse-of-theYear winners, and along with Avonova, is the only horse to claim the award in three successive years.
Dixon, who trained a nation-high 380 winners, was named both Australian and Queensland Trainer of the Year, among a raft of other accolades.
“Colt Thirty One has once again proven to be Queensland’s exceptional pacer and is a deserving horse of the year winner for an incredible third year in a row,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“His remarkable consistency saw him once again compete with the nation’s best pacers, highlighted by his fantastic second placing to King Of Swing in this year’s Group 1 TAB Blacks A Fake.
“Grant Dixon has also been appropriately recognised for another record-breaking season, claiming both state and national Trainer of the Year awards. I congratulate all award winners.”