Stylish mare Golden Sunset is the only Queensland-trained trotter to win a heat of the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship. Ever!
The very first Inter Dominion Trotting Championship series was first held in 1948 at Alexandra Park, Auckland, when Aerial Scott was victorious.
So the Trotting Championship series has spanned 77 years and only one Queensland-trained trotter has won a solitary heat.
A.
A total of 71 champions have been crowned during that period, with the series not being held between 2013 and 2017, and not being held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s a lot of grand finals and of course a lot of heats that have been organized over the years.
Queensland has hosted three Inter Dominion Trotting Championship series to date, in 2001, 2023 and this year, 2025.
Heats and Finals in all three series taking place in the Sunshine State, with Golden Sunset being the only heat winner prepared from Queensland.
For more perspective, a total of 223 trotting heats were staged before a Queensland-trained trotter achieved victory.
Six of the 223 heats were held as semi-finals, with the series being held in Melbourne (2008/09 and 2010). And 11 heats in Albion Park for a locally prepared winner.
So let that sink in. Sobering figures indeed.
The Shawn and Michelle Grimsey-trained mare scored in the first heat on the opening night of the 2025 series on July 5.
GOLDEN SUNSET REPEAT JULY 5
Did connections know the record or were they unaware and shocked when their mare achieved an upset result of $26?
“Firstly, we were completely oblivious to the fact that no Queensland-trained trotter had ever won a heat, but secondly, we were not surprised that she won that night,” Shawn explained.
“Obviously we needed some luck that night or more, not bad luck along the way, but I turned to Michelle shortly after the start as London To A Brick ($2 favourite) galloped and said ‘we’re a heap here’.
“We got an excellent drive from Nathan (Dawson); he took her away from the inside and then raced around the outside to find the lead. After that, given her record since she was here and her trial efforts prior to the series, we knew we had a chance.”
As it stands, Golden Sunset finished ninth in her next qualifying heat before finishing in the same position in the grand final, won by Arcee Phoenix.
What’s the story around Golden Sunset?
Born in Victoria in 2016, Golden Sunset is by Skyvalley out of the Sundon mare Golden Wahine, making her a half-brother to the talented Golden Spurs (by Pegasus Spur) who won seven races from just 32 starts.
Both Golden Spurs and Golden Sunset were prepared by Juanita Breen. And Breen is no stranger to success with talented standardbreds – her latest stable star is gifted pacer Roarforroscoe (11 wins, $156,000).
Golden Sunset had 58 starts for Breen, resulting in seven wins and 17 minor placings after not being raced as a two-year-old.
The talented mare managed to win at Melton and on another occasion was also runner-up to Mufasa Metro (runner-up at Inter Dominion GF 2023).
Golden Sunset was bought by Sydney-based mentor Jason Grimson in mid-2024 and was deliberately targeted at the $25,500 Carousel series at Menangle in September.
After an enjoyable test in the week leading up to the qualifying heats, Golden Sunset started as favorite ($1.75) in the heat, but after leading he was overpowered late and finished second behind Maestro.
Two weeks later, in the final, Golden Sunset finished penniless behind Affaire De Cover after restarting the betting election.
Immediately after the Carousel Final, Golden Sunset was sent to Queensland where she eventually joined the Grimsey stable.
“Both Michelle and I immediately liked her, she was sweet and very sensible. We have enjoyed working with the trotters over the years and she came at the right time,” said Shawn.
“I took a mare called Bettys Lass from Cam Ross, who Jason (Grimson) owned, so that’s how I ended up getting the call about Goldy. It was quite serendipitous looking back, but expectations weren’t high initially.
“After she settled into a routine and hard work, we thought she could win a few races here, but to reach the level she is at now, that was a pleasant surprise.”
Golden Sunset has won 13 of her 28 starts to date, including the 2025 Trotters Christmas Cup at Albion Park, while placing a further seven times.
Earlier this year, during a ten-race stretch, Golden Sunset won seven races while finishing second in the other three races, proving beyond doubt that she had quickly become the state’s top trotting mare.
It is a title she still carries to this day.
Before Golden Sunset made history by claiming the Inter Dominion heat win on bib number 20 for the stable, he also set a new track record at the famous Breakfast Creek oval.
On April 19 at Albion Park, Golden Sunset lowered the trotting track record to 1:53.7 when he led in sections of 27.7, 29.5, 28.4 and 28.1 seconds.
“That was a huge sensation that night. Setting a track record is a bit special, her performance was outstanding and a bit surreal at the same time. And it was the last race of the 10-race program that night,” said Grimsey.
“We can’t split the track record win and make history by becoming the first Queensland-trained trotter to win an Inter Dominion heat. She has made us very proud.”
Although the track record has since fallen by the wayside when Not As Promised set a new record of 1:52.3 on October 11 (Golden Sunset finished third in that race), the other record cannot be taken away.
Golden Sunset will always hold the record as the first Queensland-trained trotter to win an Inter Dominion heat!
That’s worth celebrating.
The Grimseys aim to do this again next year when the Inter Dominion series will once again take place at Albion Park, Goldy’s favorite track.
For those wondering, the best result for a Queensland-trained trotter in an Inter Dominion Grand Final belongs to the Shaun Gillespie-prepared Kasyanov, second behind the mighty Sundons Gift at Moonee Valley in 2010.
Interestingly, that was a series that did not run any heats prior to the grand final, but instead two semi-finals were held.
By RQ media
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