To quote an inspirational writer, Israelmore Ayivor, “A positive mind is the sharpest tool that brings down the monuments of failure. The quickest way to fail is to murder your mind with negative thoughts!”
Despite not being in agreement with the 40 metre handicap assigned to his Queensland trotting star Our Overanova for this month’s Darrel Alexander Memorial Championship, prominent standardbred owner/breeder Greg Mitchell remains positive, eliminating any negative thoughts about his trotter and his very classy pacer Alleluia's quest to reap Group 1 glory at home and overseas.
The Grant Dixon trained duo will follow separate Group 1 roads over the next five weeks and currently they are both on track to earn a tilt at a one million dollar feature double on New Zealand Cup day at Addington.
All going to plan at the start of next month Mitchell will fly both Our Overanova and Alleluia to New Zealand for the two major races on Cup Day, with Our Overanova shooting for the $250,000 Group 1 Hellers Dominion Trot and Alleluia tackling the feature $750,000 New Zealand Cup.
Monarchy 6yo gelding Our Overanova has a near faultless record at Albion Park winning 19 and placing four times at 24 starts at the Brisbane track and failed by a narrow margin to run down front line pole-marker Cyclone Lucky Seven in today’s 2647 metre first heat of the Darrell Alexander Memorial.
The effort was a super performance with the winner, the Alex Alchin trained Sydneysider and $2.30 race favourite Cyclone Lucky Seven, driven by Shane Graham, having all the favours in front while Our Overanova, the $2.80 second favourite, had to work in tradesman-like fashion around the entire field before launching a late dive on the line, missing victory by a head.
Realistically Our Overanova needs to win the Group Darrell Alexander Final, 17 October, to be certain of making the final field for the Dominion Trot (1950m), an Inter Dominion Trotting Championship qualifying race.
Our Overanova was listed in this week’s Dominion Trot rankings in 18th spot for the 15 starter field with 2015 Rowe Cup champion Stent ranked number 1.
Alleluia will also take a Queensland Group 1 trek towards the NZ Cup and also has to win his way into the NZ Cup field. The Art Major 5yo is ranked 21st for the 15 horse field headed up by Auckland Cup winner Christen Me. Queensland mare Forever Gold, chasing the same Group races en route to the NZ Cup is currently right on the NZ Cup borderline, currently ranked in the field at 15th.
Mitchell was glowing in his praise for Our Overanova after today’s Darrel Alexander heat.
“Let’s face it, I don’t think the handicapper has done us any favours but forget those negatives for now and talk about the horse,” Mitchell said.
“He is just a very good horse, he tries, tries, tries and Grant has done a great job with him, we now just need that Group 1 form,” Mitchell said. “He is a professional horse and no doubt that will help him achieve the best possible result.”
Alleluia bypassed the Open Pace for the easier first up assignment, the Q1 Pace at Albion Park tomorrow night.He will start from gate 4 over the 1660 metres.
A dual Group 2 race winner, Alleluia raced in great style during the winter and finished his Queensland carnival campaign off on a high note winning the $30,000 Redcliffe Gold Cup (2613m) from a standing start.
Alleluia will chase the Group 1 $100,000 Gold Coast Cup (2138m) at Albion Park on 17 October before contesting the G1 $200,000 Queensland Pacing Championship (2680m) at Albion Park, 24 October. A win in either race would be good enough to elevate the gelding into NZ Cup contention.
by David Aldred