40 years on and mates team up for another win

Four decades on, and crafty Goulburn Valley harness racing trainer John “Hookey” McLean renewed winning circle acquaintances with top reinsman Chris Alford – landing a nicely placed “plunge” along the way.

McLean, who these days is based at Arcadia, 20 minutes south of Shepparton, engaged Alford to take the reins of his three-year-old Momentum Swing (Vincent) at his home track eight days ago.

“I worked out that the last time I’d used Chris and got the money was probably at least 40 years ago,” McLean said.

“Chris and I had a bit of a laugh about that when we worked out that it was back in the 1980s, and I think that previous win was at Moonee Valley with a horse named Spider O,” he said.

“I think it may have been among Chris’ first victories at that track.”

At Shepparton, Alford got Momentum Swing, which was a fixed odds mover, out of the barrier smartly from the wide six alley and found his way to the “death-seat.  When the challenges came down the back straight, Momentum Swing went to the front and proved too strong, pulling away for a one and a half metre advantage on the line from Rakajed and Rolling Remona in a handy mile rate of 1.57-4 for the 1690-metre trip.

And McLean will be hoping it’s a case of lightning striking twice when he travels down the highway to compete at the Melton Entertainment Centre tomorrow night (Dec 23).

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Alford and Momentum Swing will compete in race 10 which is the $10,000 Betavet 3YO Pace. The pacer is in contention being quoted pre-post as an 8/1 chance.

“He goes along okay and should improve with more race experience,” McLean said.

Back in the late 1980s and 90s, McLean was known for his prowess in setting up horses that would be cherry ripe for big races.

He has trained 287 wins and 359 placings for over $1.5M in earnings, but is happy now in semi-retirement and just racing one or two, while keeping his hand in as a respected horse breaker.

Thirty-five years ago, McLean captured two high-profile Group Two victories with a superstar pacer of that time in Riverlea Jack. On October 24, 1988, he trained “Jack” to take out the $55,000 Kilmore Cup and then a fortnight later, the pacer was impressive in winning the Cranbourne Cup.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink