Alford chases a career first at Menangle

FOR all his amazing achievements, champion driver Chris Alford will be chasing a first at Menangle on Saturday night.

After more than 30 years in the sulky, Alford is yet to win the NSW Oaks.

He thinks Gary and Debbie Quinlan’s emerging filly can change that.

“I always thought she was a nice filly, but she went to another level last week in the heat,” Alford said. “She surprised me a bit to be honest, the race was over in the blink of an eye.

“It’s obviously harder again this week and she’s drawn out a bit, but I think she’s as good a chance as any in an even race.

“She has to be driven that way and saved for the last run at them, but if it’s truly run and she repeats last week, I think she’ll round them up.”

Miss Ari has improved plenty this campaign after just four starts last season netted her one win and two fourths.

She narrowly won first-up at Cranbourne on April 18 and showed enough for the Quinlans to tackle an Oaks heat, which she won running away by 7.9m.

Alford will team up with the Quinlans in another of the Menangle features when he takes the reins on Sahara Breeze in the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile (formerly Ladyship Mile).

It’s a race he’s won three times with Tailamade Lombo (1998 and ’99) and most recently with Broadways Best in 2011.

“I couldn’t have asked any more of her last week after we got shuffled back to last at the 600m and then ran home in 54 and change,” he said.

“She wasn’t too far away at the finish and is drawn (comes into gate three) to get a good run on the speed.

“It’ll be hard to win, but she should be improved by last week’s run and if she gets the right trip, she can be right in the finish.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia