Rickie Alchin in action at the 2013 Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale at Tabcorp Park, Menangle. He has a strong cross-section of colts, geldings and fillies at this year's sale, to be held there on Sunday, December 7 - the day after the Treuer Memorial.
Rickie Alchin knows he won't win with most of his 20 two-year-olds this season - but he's pretty certain other people will!
Alchin has 25 horses in training at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, and 20 of them are 'babies.' Of those, 12 are being readied for the annual Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, on Sunday, December 7 - the day after the Treuer Memorial.
Riverina-born into a stout harness racing family - his grandfather is 'Pop' Harpley - Alchin has set about making a name for himself as an expert educator of young horses.
As such, he educated youngsters for stables such as those of McCarthy and Morris-Turner, as well as his brother, Jarrod Alchin.
"I train a racehorse or two, but it's the babies who have captured my attention and time," he said. "And that's what they need - time and patience.
Alchin, who has educated the likes of superstar three-year-old Bling It On, Bathurst Gold Crown winner, Artistic Flite, and multiple winners such as Karalta Impulse, Major Post, Sally Fletcher, Show Me The Bling, Starzzzinthenight and many more, said it is important not to over-stress young stock in the education stage.
"They'll tell you when they're ready to do it, not visa versa," he said. "Speed isn't an issue at this stage - if they've got it, well and good, but it's about manners, teaching them to be racehorses, how to stand when they're geared up, to respond to commands and such."
Alchin has a strong representation of colts, geldings and fillies in the Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale. Included in that dozen, for the first time in the four-year history of the sale, is a trotter.
"I have an Aldebaran Yankee colt who is exceptional - he's one of the best horses of any gait I've had anything to do with," Alchin said.
Coming from the man who trained the square-gaiter Rainbow Jay Jay to eight metropolitan wins, that's quite a wrap.
See more of Alchin - including photos and videos of some of his Trialling Sale draft - on www.rickiealchinharnessracing.com.au
