Gun drive from Alchin lands the NSW Derby

A brilliant drive from Ricky Alchin on Soho Spectre (Art Major) provided local fans with a hometown harness racing victory in the NSW Pacers Derby at Menangle.

Soho Spectre landed three back along the pegs while Bay Of Biscay worked to the lead and the $2.40 favorite We Walk By Faith settled two horses back in the running line.

Punters were left lamenting when the well backed Nathan Street ($3.90) galloped his way out of contention inside the first 600 metres of the race.

Somehow Alchin managed to extricate Soho Spectre away from the pegs approaching the home turn as Bay Of Biscay and Sergeant Lou turned together with Minos joining in three wide.

Soho Spectre ($21) was still in traffic down the home straight and Alchin was forced to turn his charge sideways, and once in clean air, the son of Art Major charged down the centre of the track to score by a metre from Bay Of Biscay in a mile rate of 1:55.1.

SOHO SPECTRE REPLAY

Alchin said the racing gods smiled upon him during the last 600 metres of the race

“There was a gap so I could get one off approaching the turn and then I was lucky that I was able to turn him so I could get where I needed to be in the straight,” Alchin said.

“He is a really fast horse and he charged at the line when he got clear,” he said.

Alchin said Soho Spectre was primed after his first up second in last week’s Derby heat.

“That extra run did him the world of good first up and he felt the benefit of it tonight,” he said.

Soho Spectre, who was bred and is raced by prominent WA based owner Rob Watson, will now be aimed at the Bathurst Gold Chalice and then head north for the Winter Carnival in Brisbane.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink