Even by champion driver Chris Alford’s stellar standards, this is a massive weekend coming up.
Not only does Alford drive the odds-on favourite Centenario in harness racing’s version of the Golden Slipper, the $350,000 Group 1 Australian Gold final, but he also welcomes back his own stable star, young trotting sensation Wobelee.
Wobelee is on a 12-race winning streak, ranks alongside any young trotters Australia has seen and is being set for a daring raid to tackle New Zealand’s best in the Harness Jewels at Cambridge on June 2.
It is rare for young Aussie horses to race in NZ, but almost unheard for young trotters as opposed to pacers making the trip across the Tasman.
“It’s an exciting opportunity. The NZ people have been fantastic to deal with and he’s going unless something unexpected happens in the next couple of weeks,” Alford said.
Wobelee returns at Kilmore on Friday night then heads to Sydney the following weekend to chase his sixth Group 1 win in the NSW Trotters Derby at Menangle.
“Then, all going well, it’s over to NZ from there,” Alford said.
While Wobelee is firmly established as one of the best young trotters Australia has seen, Alford thinks two-year-old pacer Centenario possesses similar potential.
“I’ve been asked where Centenario rates with the best babies I’ve driven and he’s right up with any one of them, that’s for sure. He’s a pleasure to drive.
“Clayton (Tonkin, co-trainer) keeps telling me this is the race he’ll be primed for and I haven’t seen the best of him yet.
“He’s drawn well in three, but you have to respect the two Sydney horses drawn inside him on their form (Hurricane Roy 1 and Muscle Factory 2).”
Alford drove all four of Emma Stewart and Tonkin’s juveniles through their qualifying races for the Gold final.
“I’m sure I’m on the horse to beat. I’d say Hardhitter is the second best of Emma and Clayton’s, but it won’t be easy for him from outside the back (row, gate 11).”
TAB fixed odds on the APG Final at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night
Trots Media – Adam Hamilton