Chris Alford drove last years Vicbred for two-year-old trotters with Blitzthemcalder and he might be on the way to training this years winner after Friday night's Tatlow.
Chris Alford has had a big month, supporting the Children’s Tumour Foundation by raising awareness for NF but he is hoping to go out on a high with a two-pronged attack on Friday night’s feature race.
The Group 2 $30,000 Pacific Materials Handling Tatlow Stakes for two-year-old trotters has drawn together the best juvenile squaregaiters across Victoria and Alford may just have the best of them.
His young colt, Miracle, started his career with an inglorious third after leading and galloping but since then he has been flawless.
“He has won four in a row, when he first came he was a bit of a ratbag and I thought we were going to have some trouble with him but he’s really come good,” Alford said on RSN Winners with Nadia Horne on Tuesday.
“He made a little blue at his first start but his next start he chased them down and then his last three wins he has led. At two of them he’s looked flat out but then when one gets within a head of him he just tries all the way to the line.
“The other day at Maryborough he had a nice run but he beamed up the straight and did it very easily.”
It may not be as easy for him to find the front in his biggest test, having drawn three on the second line. But Alford has chosen to steer the stables best chance, according to bookmakers.
They opened the son of Yankee Spider a $2.80 outright favourite with
TAB fixed odds before easing him to $3 when Im Stately ($3 into $2.60) was well supported.
Alford’s other runner, Twelve Or A Dozen, has drawn the outside of the front row and is a $12 chance, however on ability the master reinsman explained there isn’t much separating them.
“They’ve both gone well in their heats and there’s not a lot between them at home but Miracle just seems to be having the luck at the races,” he said.
“We only have a few but they have been going really well this year. It’s always a bit harder to get a trotter going than a pacer but it’s a real thrill.”
The lightly raced Twelve Or A Dozen will be steered by Josh Duggan in what would be the 21-year-old’s biggest career win.
The stable had a surprise after a less than encouraging performance at Ballarat with that filly but she has since returned to form with a strong second in her heat.
“The first start she drew the second row and settled a long way off the lead and had to do all the work and ran well for second,” Alford said.
“Then at Ballarat she went terrible, I think she just didn’t like being boxed in. Since then we’ve found out she’s been in season so we’ve given her a bit of help with that and hopefully that will make the difference.”
To Listen to Alford’s full interview with Nadia Horne simply
click here.
