Alford closing in on his 8000th winner

He’s closing in on his 8000th harness racing winner.

You read that right – 8000! Yet we don’t see champion Victorian reinsman Chris Alford in Sydney as often these days.

Alford will be there tonight with his eyes on landing the feature-race double at Club Menangle for Bolinda (Victoria) trainer Brent Lilley.

He will drive the well-performed Kyvalley Amanda (Skyvalley) in Race 5, the $75,000 Schweppes NSW Trotters Oaks against a quality field which includes fellow Victorian Rockinwithattitude (David Miles), who has been listed as an odds-on favourite for the Group 1.

Yet Alford’s best chance of success looks to be with one of Australia’s best square-gaiters Queen Elida (Love You), the $1.75 early favourite for the $100,000 Garrards Macarthur Trotters Mile.

The star mare is chasing her fourth successive win after a hat-trick of Melton wins for Lilley and Alford and looks likely to make it a phenomenal 22 wins from 39 starts when she tackles Race 7 tonight.

“We’re looking forward to getting up there and catching up with everyone,” said Lilley, who also has Our Marvella in the Oaks.

“We’re not too worried about her draw because a few of her races she’s shown a lot of ability and I’m sure she’ll be booming home late.

“She’s made a few little mistakes in the half a dozen starts she’s had but ability-wise she’s right up there with anything in that field, I think.”

Lilley is excited about the prospects of Queen Elida in the other night’s feature.

“There’s no secret we had some problems with her before the Great Southern Star,” he said.

“It was a bit of a race against time and she was probably 90 per cent then, but she’s right back on song now and is probably going as well as she ever has.

“She’s very versatile and Puppet [Alford] will sum things up when the gate lets them go and I’m sure he’ll know when to hit the button with her.”

Lilley says there were 2-3 mares’ races in Melbourne for Queen Elida providing everything goes to plan before a slight fresh-up before the Inter Dominion Trotting series.

Meanwhile Team McCarthy will field an all-out attack on Race 6 tonight, the appropriately-named Coronation Cup with an incredible five of the 10 starters.

Luke McCarthy will drive the talented Bondi Lockdown, who is having his first start since winning the Consolation race on Miracle Mile night.

“It’s good to have him back,” said Luke.

“There’s a lot of speed drawn inside him so we’ll hope to just slot in somewhere and come home well.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for Harness Racing New South Wales