MENANGLE Park trainer Jarrod Alchin will make the trip to Newcastle tonight with just one horse . . . but he’s confident that it will be all worthwhile.
The astute trainer will have to wait patiently until Race 7 when My Ultimate Byron, a two-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere will be making his debut, taking on horses that are much older.
But none of that fazes Alchin, who believes that the gelding could be the makings of a very smart pacer.
“Going on his trials to date at Tabcorp Park Menangle, I think he will be very hard to beat, despite not having race fitness under his belt,” said Alchin.
“In just one week, from his first trial on March 24 to a stronger hit out on March 31, he shaved three and a half seconds off his time for the mile trip and won by a widening 30-metre margin.
“He is definitely above average in ability and if all goes well tonight, I have some optimistic plans for him.
“Coming through from his early preparations I told Cameron (Hart) that I really liked this bloke and asked that he drive him even in the educational trials.
“After Cam got a feel of him, I did not have to ask again as he shared my high opinion of the gelding.
“Scott Whitton of Tumby Park paid $36,000 for My Ultimate Byron at last year’s Australian Pacing Gold Sale in Sydney so hopefully the horse can start repaying him tonight.”
In pre-post markets, My Ultimate Byron was quoted at $1.25, despite him meeting much more experienced horses, such is the reputation the youngster has already forged.
It has been a busy week for Cameron Hart, which kicked off at Riverina Paceway Wagga last Sunday when he took out the Group 1 Mares Championship with Techys Angel.
The 22-year-old spent the night in Junee with his parents before heading back to Sydney on Monday to drive at Bankstown, where he landed a winning double.
His first success was aboard another Alchin trained two-year-old in My Ultimate Cobber and he followed that later in the afternoon when he partnered So Jack to victory for David Waite.
Hart’s stocks continued to rise at Tabcorp park Menangle on Tuesday when he went one better again by landing a winning treble, scoring with Alluring Tyron, Hammertime Harley and Island Fire Dance.
HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY