The Queensland winter campaign couldn’t have started much better for Rickie Alchin.
Fresh out of the mandatory quarantine/isolation period, Alchin ventured straight to Albion Park yesterday (Tuesday) and struck pay dirt immediately.
The astute Menangle based horseman won the opening race, the Rio Cobra Sulky 2yo Trotters Handicap with the talented Aldebaran Selena.
The Majestic Son filly led throughout while key rivals made early errors and proved too strong rating 2:03.9 which shattered the track record for two-year-old trotters.
Her winning time took 2.9 seconds off the previous mark.
The overall track record time for a 1628m stand start event is held by Ivanov at 1:59.7.
Aldebaran Selena is on loan to local trainer Graham Dwyer while Alchin completed his COVID-19 protocol.
“She’s a nice little filly with good speed and it was very pleasing to see her put it all together, hopefully that’s the first of many victories.” Alchin said.
Aldebaran Selena is being aimed at the Springboard Trotting Series, the $15,000 Final is scheduled for July 31 at Albion Park.
Meanwhile, Alchin was thrilled with the effort of his richly talented three-year-old Crunch Time who scored an easy trial victory between races.
The Somebeachsomewhere gelding defeated older rivals while rating 1:56.9 – he covered his final half in splits of 27.9 and 27.2 seconds.
“I was pleased with that trial, he did it comfortably and his final half was sharp so we’ll look for a race next week with him now.”
Crunch Time is being readied for the Gr.2 $50,660 Garrards South East Derby at Albion Park on July 18.
A winner of 5 of his 24 starts to date, he has banked more than $72,000.
Crunch Time is raced by Brisbane based breeder, Alf La Spina.
Alchin had three other starters yesterday with Blackwhiteandblue (2nd), Jamaican Resort (5th) and Phil Bromac (5th) all expected to improve off the run.
The stable have two runners at Friday night’s Albion Park meeting, Mount Hercules (Race 5) and Black Hawk Joe (Race 7).
Chris Barsby