SA Trots - Afford hopeful Alakazam has the magic at Pirie

LOCAL horseman Dale Afford is preparing for a busy - and hopefully successful - time in Port Pirie tomorrow night.

Rarely without a representative at his home track, Afford has seven runners engaged in five races, including the first and last events on the card.

"It will be busy, but manageable," Afford said. "I reckon each of them has a place, if not winning, chance with the right run, so hopefully we'll have a bit of success.

"A few of the races are very even and you wouldn't really be surprised no matter who the winner is.

"It will definitely come down to getting a touch of luck on the night."

Although Alakazam is considered his best prospect as far as betting markets are concerned, Afford rates Jamaican Rock as his "most likely".

Drawn to search for the front from barrier two in race three, Alakazam is listed as the $3.50 equal favourite with Dancing Finn from gate five.

"Alakazam has gone better in his last couple of starts than they read on paper," Afford said. "He won four starts ago and was then a good third before having no luck at his next two.

"He gets his chance from the draw and can hopefully make the most of it."

Triumphant at the provincial circuit last week, Jamaican Rock will begin from gate five due to his Outside of the Draw status.

In what shapes as "the most even field of the night", the son of A Rocknroll Dance is on the fourth line of betting at $6, with Bay Jim Major the $3 favourite from barrier two.

"His manners can let him down at the start, hence him being ODM, but if he is on his game, he will be right in the finish," Afford said.