23 July, 2004
Should exciting Kiwi Hurricane Flyer claim Sunday
afternoon?s Harness Racing International Victoria Trotters? Derby at
Maryborough, it will be a triumph for courage according to caretaker trainer
Chris Alford.
Alford said the fact that the
gelding qualified for the Group 1 Final was remarkable, considering the
obstacles he overcame in the week leading up to his heat victory at Shepparton
last Saturday night.
?When you know what he went
through between in The Holmfield and the Derby heat, his effort to win was
amazing,? he said.
Alford explained that Hurricane
Flyer cut his foot when he galloped in The Holmfield at Moonee Valley on July 9
and subsequently developed an infection.
To add to his woes, the horse
also contracted a virus which adversely affected his white blood cell count.
?It was just fortunate the way
the race panned out at Shepparton. After I handed up the lead they went very
slow through the middle stages,? Alford said.
?As a result, he only had to dash
up the straight which was ideal because I wanted to give him the easiest
possible run.?
Alford said he was confident
Hurricane Flyer would be 100 percent fit for his Derby assignment and predicts
the gelding will be highly competitive in the Group One feature.
?He?s probably got an advantage
in barriers over his main rivals and he?s got good gate speed which I won?t be
reluctant to use,? he said.
?And he?s pretty versatile. He
can stay which he proved in The Holmfield and sprint which he did at Shepparton
(when he ran a 28.6 final quarter).?
Alford suggested a well-behaved
Bad Boy Truscott would be hardest to beat in the $50,000 Blue Ribband Classic.
?On his day, he probably has the
most raw ability of any horse in the field.
?But his manners are still a
problem.
?He messed up the start at the
trials at Geelong on Monday night so that?s got to be a query with him,? he
said.
Trained at Christchurch in New
Zealand by Dave Anderson, Hurricane Flyer boasts four wins and six minor
placings from 16 race starts.
He will be attempting to provide
Alford ? a multiple feature race winning driver ? with his first Victoria
Trotters? Derby success.
