By Marc McGowan
LEADING reinsman Chris Alford is looking forward to continuing his successful relationship with Cranbourne when the harness club holds its annual Christmas in July meeting on 7 July.
Alford readily admits he rarely leaves the Cranbourne track without a win and hopes the trend continues at Saturday week’s meeting.
“I seem to have a pretty good run there. The biggest stable I drive for is in Cranbourne and I have lots of runners there,” he said.
“I’m not sure how many winners I’ve had there this year, but I’m usually disappointed if I go there and don’t get a winner because I usually do at nearly every meet, which is not too bad.”
The 23-year harness veteran is also full of praise for the nine-race Christmas in July program.
“It should be a good one because we usually get a good crowd and it’s a good night for it,” Alford said.
“It is a good, friendly club down there, they look after you well, and the racing is usually first-class.”
It is no coincidence that Alford has a soft spot for Cranbourne after achieving his biggest win on champion local pacer Golden Reign in the 1995 Inter Dominion.
Alford also enjoys a distinct advantage over many of his rivals, with superior knowledge of the course’s ins and outs, particularly its trademark 223-metre home straight.
“I go there every Saturday for trials, and, if not trials, I’m at the races whenever they’re on, which is usually every fortnight or so,” he said.
“It’s a very good track and by being there every week you get to know how to drive it.
“You get to know the best spot to get going on the horse, whereas some people go a bit early in the straight and it’s too long for them and they stop 10 metres out.”
