Vin Knight Medal-winning horseman Chris Alford
It won’t be hard for Chris Alford to have a better night at Tabcorp Park than he did last Friday night.
The Bolinda reinsman took a tumble aboard Our Flash Girl in the Group 2 Tatlow Stakes Trotters Final and hasn’t taken a drive since that meeting finished.
But he’s doing everything in his power to overcome the cuts and severe bruising that has hindered since the fall so he can take up a super list of drives on tonight’s quality nine-race Tabcorp Park card.
Among his book is Forest Babe, a filly he also trains, who is engaged in the inaugural $20,000 Harness Breeders Vic Track Bred 3YO Classic.
Alford has always deemed the daughter of Modern Art immature, but victory at three of her past five starts have the man closing in on 4000 driving wins thinking she can acquit herself well in an even affair.
“This year I don’t think the three-year-old fillies are outstanding, they’re a pretty even bunch, and if she has any luck I wouldn’t be surprised if she won it,” Alford said.
“She’s pretty green and has taken a while to get the hang of things, but she’s getting better all the time and if things go her way she’s good enough to win it because a couple of her runs have been really good.”
Although beaten as favourite in a C1 event at Ballarat last start, Forest Babe cruised home at Geelong the start before and her personal best mile rate of 1:57 is the best of any filly in the 9.12pm race.
She’s got gate six to overcome this weekend but favourite Our Surfer Girl has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 for the 1720-metre sprint.
Alford said she’s got the pace to race handy, but thinks her best chance of making it five wins from 14 starts might be to take a sit.
“She’s a better chaser than when she’s left in front, so it would be good if we can slot in somewhere early and then get a trail home and try and make our own luck in the last lap.”
Forest Babe isn’t Alford’s only incentive to get in the cart tonight with first-time engagements aboard leading contenders awaiting in the two other $20,000 features.
He’ll team with 30m joint backmarker Karlsruhe in the 2760m The SEW-Eurodrive Enduro and is aboard capable sit-sprint mare Intuitional from the pole in the VHRMA Graham Goffin Memorial (2240m).
“She (Intuitional) has been racing really well and probably deserves to win a decent race because her form’s been great and Karlsruhe didn’t have a lot of luck last start and his handicap is negated a bit by the long distance,” he said.
