Alchin expects improvement from leading Eureka hope

One of Sydney’s leading hopes for the fast-approaching $2.1m TAB Eureka faces a tough task when he resumes harness racing at Club Menangle tonight.

Classy four-year-old My Ultimate Ronnie (Bettor’s Delight) has his first start for two months when he resumes in Race 1 tonight against Miracle Mile runner-up and last week’s winner Spirit Of St Louis.

A winner of his past four starts, My Ultimate Ronnie will have to overcome a wide draw in gate eight if he is to continue his ‘picket fence’ of wins.

Tonight’s race is also over the more testing 2300m journey, which probably suits Spirit Of St Louis more too, even though that six-year-old also has a wide draw to contend with.

My Ultimate Ronnie’s trainer Jarrod Alchin couldn’t be happier with him although expects improvement from tonight’s first-up run.

“We wanted to get a good tough run under his belt before the Rising Sun next week,” Alchin told National Trotguide’s Mike Ko’cass.

“This horse is a typical Bettors Delight; he doesn’t really go until you stoke him up.

“He just flops along, although we’ve been happy with his trials and he’ll race well.”

Alchin said he would play it by ear after My Ultimate Ronnie contests next week’s $350,000 The Rising Sun in Queensland.

“There is another race in Queensland after that which we might head to,” he said.

“Then he’ll come back here to Menangle and spend some time on the water walker and we’ll just keep him up to the mark.

“He won’t lose much fitness and hopefully he’ll then have a couple more runs to ready him for the Eureka.”

Alchin also has five-year-old Romanee in the same race, with Will Rixon taking the drive.

“He’s suited by the 2300m and if they go hard they’ll know he’s there,” said Alchin.

“He just lacks a little bit of high speed but he’ll be storming home.”

Alchin has a three-pronged attack in Race 2 with Teagen Banner (Amanda Turnbull), My Ultimate Chevron (Cam Hart) and Delightful Angel (Will Rixon) all in the mix.

Alchin said Delightful Angel was drawn badly but had benefitted from her second-up run last week.

“She’s a little fat thing but you’ll see a sharper mare this week,” he said.

“She’s probably the best hope of my three in that race and she’ll be storming home, despite the wide barrier.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW