The metropolitan trainer’s premiership might be heading for an exciting climax at tonight’s final metropolitan meeting of the season, but it is a different story in the driver’s title.
Champion reinsman Chris Alford already has the metropolitan driver’s title all but wrapped up.
His 33 winners for the season have him eight wins clear Kerryn Manning, with Daryl Douglas in third spot on 24 wins.
Manning, who has nine drives on tonight's 11-race card, would have to smash all sorts of driving records and hope Alford fails to salute aboard any of his seven drives to reel in the 39-year-old.
Ironically, one of Alford’s best drives at the Valley is for Manning’s father Peter.
The Bolinda-based driver will take the reins aboard the Peter Manning-trained Melacca, which is likely to start favourite in the id08.com.au Vicbred Pace at 7.15pm.
Alford’s other top drives are Aimee Sheffield in the Alabar Vicbred Pace at 6.20pm and Glacier Holmes in the Rydges North Melbourne Pace at 6.50pm.
While Alford will claim the honours in the metro driver’s title, he has been forced to play second fiddle to Daryl Douglas in the statewide driver’s premiership.
Douglas, who this season became the first man to drive 300 winners in an Australian racing season, has 298 Victorian winners to his name heading into Friday night’s meeting.
That puts him well clear of Alford, who sits in second spot on 195 winners.
