THE greatest of all has just reached the most amazing milestone in Australian harness racing.
Chris Alford, affectionately known as "The Puppet, " reached an almost unthinkable 8,000 career wins (Hydrautech Ballarat Pace - Wednesday, February 7th).
It's the latest and arguably most amazing achievement in Alford's stellar career, which spans almost 40 years.
His first winner came aboard Spring Vance at Wangaratta on October 2, 1984.
Since then, 55-year-old Alford has added a staggering 138 Group 1 victories and won 15 Australian driving premierships.
He holds the record for the most wins in a single season, with 456 in season 2017/18.
"It feels like it's been a big countdown," Alford giggled.
"I'm sort of glad it's over, to be honest."
"It's a terrific thrill, and I'm really proud of it, but I can just get back to trying to win big races now."
"While milestones are great, nothing rates up with winning a really big race. That's what I'm chasing again now."
Among Alford's remarkable list of major wins are two that he prizes above all others: the Inter Dominion finals on Golden Reign (Christchurch, 1995) and Lennytheshark (Gloucester Park, 2015).
"They're the two best horses I've driven. I can't split them," he said.
"They were different but similar. They both had an amazing will to win."
"I'd have to say Golden Reign's win is still the biggest of my career. It came early, and doing it on such a special horse over there in Christchurch was amazing. He beat an incredible field, too."
"But winning an Inter Dominion with Lenny after everything we'd done together was also really special."
"It just felt right for him to be the horse to give me that second Inter Dominion win."
CHRIS ALFORD REFLECTS ON HIS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
BEST FIVE HORSES DRIVEN
1 – GOLDEN REIGN/LENNYTHESHARK: As outlined above.
3 – TAILAMADE LOMBO: She was amazing and not far at all behind Golden Reign, and Lenny was at her top.
For a mare to do what she did against the boys and for so long showed how good she is. Not just the best mare I've driven, but the best (Australian) mare during my career.
4 – POSTER BOY: One of the best young horses I've driven. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of him as an older horse because he was good to win the Chariots Of Fire at four and then to run third in the Miracle Mile a couple of weeks later.
5 – QUEEN ELIDA: She's the best trotter I've driven. She's just got so much class and speed. At her top, she's just so exciting to drive.
CHRIS ALFORD – FIVE GREATEST WINS
1 – GOLDEN REIGN – 1995 CHRISTCHURCH INTER DOMINION: Wins don't come much better. The horses he beat, the way he did, where he did it … all so amazing.
2 – LENNYTHESHARK – 2005 PERTH INTER DOMINION: He was such a special horse to me. He had his quirks, but we got along so well. For all the big wins we shared, to win an Inter Dominion together was the ultimate.
3 – MONT DENVER GOLD – 2003 HUNTER CUP: This one was family. Dad (Barry) trained him and he was really sick at the time. It was the last big win we shared together. It's one I treasure.
4 – LOMBO LA FE FE – 2002 GREAT NORTHERN OAKS (AUCKLAND): She was some sort of filly, almost unbeatable at two and three and so fast. I loved this win because it's so rare for our young horses to go over there and win. She blew them away.
5 – TAILAMADE LOMBO – 2000 QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONSHIP (GOLD COAST): There's so many great wins I could've included from her, but this one has really stuck with me. Courage Under Fire was still at the peak of his powers, and she beat him in one of her greatest performances at the old Gold Coast track.
