Alford's Quest for Group 1 Success

CHAMPION Victorian driver Chris Alford's quest for Group 1 success across two countries this weekend has been thwarted by travel.

Alford, who has driven more winners than anyone else in this part of the world with almost 8000 victories, was poised to drive at three different tracks across two countries in the 48 hours from Thursday night to Saturday night.

Those drives were to include two Group 1 features.

But juggling a trip from Auckland to Sydney and then back home to Melbourne has proven too challenging.

"I'll do the first two legs, but won't get to Sydney ," Alford said. Instead, he will return from NZ to drive at Melton on Saturday night.

"It's been a hectic few weeks with two trips to NZ already and a third one this week.

"Sorting flights from Auckland to Sydney and then having to stay in Sydney on the Saturday night because the one drive I had was so late ... it all became too hard."

Fittingly, Alford will attend Victoria's gala Horse of the Year Awards dinner on Sunday night.

Alford was booked to drive two-year-old pacer Prioritise for champion Victorian training duo Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin in the $400,000 APG Gold Bullion final for colts and geldings at Menangle on Saturday night.

He conceded Prioritise, one of three key runners in the final for Stewart and Tonkin, would need to improve a lot on his distant heat second to War Dan Buddy to win the final despite drawing ideally in gate two.

“I’m sure he’ll take a lot from that debut run, but he’ll need to. War Dan Buddy beat him easily and the word is Stormryder, who won the other (Victorian) heat is better than War Dan Buddy,” Alford said.

“That’s without knowing how to line up the Victorian form with the WA horse (Ten To The Dozen, gate three) and local Soho Spectre (nine).”

So, Alford, who turns 55 next month, will head to his “home” track Kilmore tonight (Thursday) for six drives, the last of them at 10.06pm.

It’s then home nearby Romsey for as much sleep as he can get before darting off to Tullamarine for a tomorrow (Friday) morning flight from Melbourne to Auckland.

Tomorrow night he partners star Aussie trotter Aldebaran Zeus in the Group 1 National Trot at Alexandra Park.

Alford drove Aldebaran Zeus to win at Cambridge on week one and then drew poorly, settled back and made late ground for fifth at Alexandra Park last Friday night.

“He’s going well and has a much better chance from the draw (gate two) this week,” Alford said.

“The local star Muscle Mountain has drawn the pole, but my guy is quick out. I’ll have a serious crack for a 100m to see if we can get across.

“If we cross, I’ll be holding the front because his best wins have come when leading.

“If I can’t get across, there should be room to drop in behind Muscle Mountain and still have our chance.”

Alford and Aldebaran Zeus add to the Aussie flavour at the feature Alexandra Park meeting, which also includes the Jess Tubbs-trained Better Eclipse from a suitable barrier three in the Group 1 Messenger. Tubbs’ husband, Greg Sugars, will take the drive.

Better Eclipse is trying to make it back-to-back Aussie wins in the Messenger after Jason Grimson’s Majestic Cruiser upstaged the Kiwi stars last year.

·       Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.