Two Harness Racing Hall of Famers combine with exciting young trotting mare I Am Wilma.
Chris Lang, who has trained greats like Sundons Gift, Skyvalley, Let Me Thru and National Interest, trains the four-year-old mare with his partner Sonia Mahar.
The great Chris Alford, who has driven almost 2000 more winners than any other Australasian driver, takes the reins on I Am Wilma again in the opening race at Melton on Saturday night.
Alford, who boasts more than 8400 winners and 145 at Group 1 level, has driven I Am Wilma 13 times for five wins, five seconds and a third.
And he’s buzzing about her potential.
“She’s good. She’ll measure up to all the good ones in time,” he said.
“She’s still not a complete racehorse, but she’s getting there and on raw ability she’s up with the better trotters I’ve driven.”
I Am Wilma scored her most significant win yet and her second successive win when she upstaged a strong field, including some key Brisbane Inter Dominion contenders, at Melton last Saturday night.
Alford used gate one to full advantage to trail the classy leader Im Bobby and run him down late in slick time.
I Am Wilma has pole again over a shorter 1720m trip on Saturday night in what looks a slightly easier race.
“She’s going to be hard to beat again from the draw,” Alford said.
“She was suited by Im Bobby running along in front last week. She loves to go fast and that’s been the challenge for Chris and Sonia to get her to settle a bit better at times.
“But that was a big win in a strong race last week and it shows the potential she’s got.”
Despite the win, Lang and Mahar will resist the temptation to chase the $150,000 Group 1 Great Square at Albion Park next month.
“She’s still learning and the racing can take a bit out of her, so she’s better staying home for now,” Alford said.
“She’ll have this race, then go out for a break and get ready for the Sires Stake series later in the year.
“That’ll be good grounding and experience and then she can have a crack at the big (open-class) races early next year.”
I Am Wilma won the Vicbred Sires’ final last season before finishing second in the Breeders Crown final.
Despite I Am Wilma staying home, at least six of her rivals could still be Brisbane-bound.
Im Bobby and Keayang Stuka back-up from chasing home I Am Wilma last week, while stablemates Lovemeto and Remus Phoenix are the other big guns.
