Chris Alford and Louvre win the Gold Chalice at Tabcorp Park
Chris Alford proved you can’t keep a good man down when he rebounded from a near disaster to win the feature event on a marathon day at Melton’s Tabcorp Park on Friday.
The champion reinsman was involved in a sensational fall that caused the abandonment of the third-last race at the Bacchus Marsh fixture at the same venue, but overcame a battered body to win the $25,000 Harness Breeders Vic Gold Chalice (2240m) at the same venue less than three hours later.
The Bolinda horseman relinquished commitments after the win aboard the Susan Hunter-trained filly, but didn’t dare feel sorry for himself with champion trainer/driver Lance Justice suffering a suspected broken ankle and fellow drivers Ross Payne (wrist) and Kylie Sugars (shoulder) also injured in the spill.
“I could hardly get out of the cart after the race, but I’ve only just got bruises and cuts, no breaks, so I’m a lot better off than the others,” Alford said before indicating he would sit out Saturday night’s meeting at Shepparton before returning at Ballarat on Boxing Day night.
Alford’s pain was eased by the fact Louvre was able to capitalise on a cushy run to join Mother Courage, Tupelo Rose, Lady Waratah and last year’s winner Aussie Made Lombo on the Gold Chalice honour roll.
The daughter of Art Major comfortably found the spot outside the leader early then worked to the front in a comfortable 48.2-second lead time and shaped as almost unbeatable after cruising through the first quarter in 31.3secs.
A 29.8secs second split afforded Louvre ($1.60 fav) the opportunity to peel off 28.3 and 28.7secs closing splits, which carried her to an easy six-metre win over Steam Washed ($4), who ran a huge race for second after settling second last and forced to come wide on the home turn.
Third, a further 2.9m away in the 1:59.5 mile rate, was $71 chance Alina, who like Steam Washed is trained by Ruth Shinn.
Alford, who was only having his second drive on the Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge winner following a first-up third, was impressed with the feel she gave him.
“She went really well,” he said of the winner of eight of her 13 starts. “Finding the lead so easy and Steam Washed getting back from the bad draw helped.
“I only watched her as a two-year-old and she seemed pretty good then. She definitely hasn’t lost anything.
“She looks to have got stronger and seems more relaxed, so she should be a major player in all the big races again.”
