Magic Interest will prove one of the hardest to beat for Our Aythreeeighty in the APG 3YO Trotters Final
Chris Alford hopes that what Our Aythreeeighty lacks in experience he will make up for in ability when he lines up in Saturday night’s Group 1 Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Trotters Final (2100m).
The talented gelding will be making just his third appearance when he takes on the likes of Breeders Crown champion Magic Interest and Redwood Classic runner-up Hanginwiththestars in the $75,000 event.
But trainer-driver Alford wouldn’t be running the Sundon gelding if he didn’t think he had what it takes to match it with his more experienced rivals.
“You can’t be too confident because he is still learning, but he’s shown he’s got his fair share of ability,” Alford said. “On ability he’s probably as good as any in the race and he seems to be getting better and better all the time.
“He only qualified (to race) about six weeks ago, so he’s done a pretty good job to get to a race like this.”
And he’s a credit to amazing producer Majestic Maori. Our Aythreeeighty is the 14th foal out of the 27-year-old daughter of Thor Hanover.
She has had 10 to race and all but one of those have won. First foal Encore Performance and Past Judgement (seventh) have been the most successful with seven wins, while Suspicious Eyes (fourth) was a six-time winner.
Our Aythreeeighty showed he has the potential to be the best of the lot when he comfortably handled all of this weekend’s rivals in the APG Preview at Maryborough on March 25.
He strolled home by 7-1/4 metres from Aftanoondelite and Magic Interest that day, when he enjoyed a lovely run on the leader’s back after starting from barrier three.
Alford recognises it’s unlikely he will find that spot again this Saturday night after drawing barrier six, but he won’t be using up his charge early in the event to be run at 7pm.
“He’s got pretty good speed, but in saying that he’s only had two starts and I won’t push him (out of the gate), I’ll just let him come out how he feels,” he said.
“There’s plenty of speed on the inside with Hanginwiththestars and the like, so we’ll just have to see what happens in the first 100 metres.”
