A potentially historic day has dawned with champion reinsman Chris Alford within reach of setting a new Australian mark for most wins by a driver in a season.
Alford ascended to a remarkable 387 wins last night with a treble of victories at Tabcorp Park Melton, including with Kyvalley Clichy and Joe Vassallo in the final races on the card.
A victory today will see Alford tie Daryl Douglas's record setting 388 wins in 2007-2008, when he brought up the magical milestone from 2063 starts.
Before today's double-header at Stawell and Geelong, Alford had ventured on to the track 1410 times and smashed his previous best single-season winning rate, which had been the 336 wins he produced in 2011-12.
“It would be pretty special. I keep an eye on it, if it comes it comes," Alford said of the landmark. "I just try and win as many races as I can."
Speaking on the eve of an extraordinarily successful Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series finals night, when he piloted four winners, Alford typically attributed much of his success to the opportunities he'd been given.
“A big part of it is due to Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin), and there are others whose horses I’m driving who have also been going well at the right time," he said. “I’ve been pretty lucky over the years to drive for most of the good stables. I think if you do the right thing by them they will stick with you."
So when will the landmark win occur?
Alford steers two at Stawell today and a further two at Geelong tonight.
First up is Hot Breakfast for trainer Malcolm Phillips in the Hygain Micrspeed Pace at 2.55pm, who Good Form analyst Rob Auber has rated a $5 chance, second favourite behind Matt Craven's short-priced Wardan Express.
"Wardan Express is a very smart horse that has taken his time to strike his best form this campaign," Auber said. "Clearly looks the class horse. Hot Breakfast has enjoyed a good season. Racing well and is a place hope."
His other driver for the day is Sleepee, the raw but impressive two-year-old trotting filly who steps out in The Maori Legend at 3.33pm, a $14,000 race. Trained by Chris' wife Alison, it would be a fitting way to tie the record or set a new mark and Auber has Sleepee as the most likely winner, quoting him as a $1.80 pop.
"Sleepee’s been very impressive at both starts to date and appears to be getting better," Auber said. "Runner-up in the Group 1 Vicbred final last start. Hard to beat."
If the cards don't fall today, it's on to Geelong tonight, where Alford has a further three drives.
Auber rates Dependlebury an $8 in the Flying Brick Original Cider Pace at 8pm, Bossanova Bay a $5 chance in the AON Business Insurance 3YO Pace at 8.30pm and Elteearr a $2 pop in the Jims Mowing pace at 9.30pm.
And then it's on to Bendigo for a further seven drives tomorrow night.
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