by Kyle Galley
Champion horseman Chris Alford won his fifth Traralgon Pacing Cup on Sunday.
In front of a good crowd despite windy and wet conditions Alford partnered Hurricane Stride to a strong victory in the $7000 race.
While Alford is used to victory in the feature event Clyde trainers Jayne Davies and Noel Alexander had never won the race before Sunday, despite having won many races in the district over more than three decades.
The Traralgon Pacing Cup remembers trotting held in the Latrobe Valley from 1975 to 1995. Alford won the last race on the Traralgon track in 1995.
Gippsland horses collected plenty of success at the Sunday meeting.
Trafalgar pacer Choosa Cruiser landed win one at start four in the three-year-old event, surprising many punters.
Choosa Cruiser held the lead from barrier one on the wet track and scored at odds of $41.
Glenn Hunter drove Choosa Cruiser for his father Chris, who trains the filly for Thorpdale owner/breeders Pete Ransom and Rowan Blackshaw.
Most Happy Cullen scored an impressive 13-metre victory for trainer Gary Quinlan and a big syndicate of local owners in the third race.
The four-year-old stallion’s victory was the second winning drive of Chris Alford’s treble for the day.
Alford also teamed up with trainer Ray Mathews to win the second race with Jackmichaels.
Mathews has been patient with the five-year-old gelding, who scored his first race win on Sunday at start 38.
Ten-year-old gelding Outpunch Enchanter won the Trotters Handicap, his eighth victory from an incredible 222 race starts.
The trotter has also finished in the minor placings on 47 occasions.
She Can Rock led throughout to win the first race, while Irish Player won his second race for the year at Warragul in the final event of the day, gaining the major prize in an exciting three-way finish.
Warragul trots return on Monday, August 28.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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