Ace Victorian reinsman Chris Alford has built up a wonderful association with veteran West Australian pacer Major Catastrophe and he will be looking to drive the powerfully-built eight-year-old to victory in the $50,000 Garrards Horse And Hound Binshaw Classic over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Alford has driven Major Catastrophe, bred, owned and trained by David Young, three times for two wins, including a heat and the final of the Binshaw Classic 12 months ago, and a third placing, in a heat of the Binshaw Classic last Friday night.
Alford restrained Major Catastrophe from the wide barrier at No. 8 last Friday night and he brought the gelding home with a strong three-wide burst from tenth in the middle stages to finish third behind Ohoka Kentucky and Cut For An Ace.
Major Catastrophe was a 13/2 chance in the Binshaw final last year when he started from barrier six and raced wide early before working hard in the breeze. He covered the final quarters in 27.7sec. and 28.8sec. and got to the front in the closing stages to defeat the fast-finishing Gotta Go Yanky, with the pacemaker Znana a head away in third place.
Standing in the way of Major Catastrophe scoring another Binshaw Classic victory is the polemarker Rub Of The Green, who is sure to start a short-priced favourite after his most impressive win in a qualifying heat last Friday week.
Rub Of The Green, trained at Pinjarra by Michael Brennan, will again be handled by Gary Hall jun. The New Zealand-bred five-year-old was restrained from barrier No. 9 in his heat. He settled down in tenth position before starting a three-wide move 1050m from home. He sustained his spirited burst to hit the front at the 270m mark and went on to win easily at a 1.56.4 rate from Max Meridius and The Storm Chief.
Brennan also has sound prospects in the $35,000 TABtouch Interdominion Consolation over 2936m in which his talented seven-year-old The Bucket List will be driven by Michael Grantham from barrier four.
The Bucket List finished powerfully from sixth at the bell to be second to Hectorjayjay over 2536m last Friday night.
