Some might call it luck but many would say it was good management.
Talented young horseman Alex Alchin, 22, prepares exciting prospect Cyclone Lucky Seven, the clear favourite for Queensland’s biggest trotting event, the Gr.1 $50,000 Statewide Group Darrell Alexander Memorial Championship Final at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Since purchasing the trotter earlier this year from New Zealand in partnership with his 83 year-old Grandfather, Russell Harpley, he has quickly developed him into a serious talent.
Cyclone Lucky Seven has won 4 of his 8 starts to date on Australian soil including both heats of this series.
“He’s a nice trotter with good ability, I had some niggling issues to deal with early on but I think we’re starting to sort them all out now and his current form is really impressive. He’s done more than what I expected at this stage of his preparation and I think he’s still got a lot of upside, the future looks bright for him.” Alchin said.
As the stable foreman for the powerful Sydney stable of Luke and Belinda McCarthy, Alchin has been fortunate to work with some exceptional equine talent including his personal favourite, Bling It On, a freakish juvenile talent that has amassed close to a million dollars in stakes.
While working with an endless amount of talent on a daily basis has its perks, Alchin wanted something for himself.
And he found it.
“I wanted a new challenge, something to get me going for my own future and the time was right to get something moving and finding a suitable horse that could give me a head start financially was the challenge I was chasing. Apart from a set budget, I had no boundaries to work within and I looked at a heap of prospects via the phone or talking to people.
“A trotter wasn’t really on the radar, my pop had never raced a trotter but once I looked at this horse, I knew he was the one for me. I don’t know what it was when I studied his tapes but I just had that feeling he was the horse I was looking for and Luke gave him the tick of approval too.
“In many ways, this horse came via pure luck but I’m planning on making the most that luck and winning this weekend would be a great start. The prizemoney is great plus other spin offs include a free pass into the Great Southern Star in Melbourne next year, that would be a dream come true.”
Cyclone Lucky Seven has scored two impressive victories in the past fortnight, leading on both occasions while throwing down impressive sectionals.
In the opening heat, he took care of the state’s best trotter Our Overanova while last week he easily defeated smart Sydney mare My Valerie.
UBET have installed Cyclone Lucy Seven as the punters elect at $2.10.
“I’m thrilled with the way he’s handled this series to date, the travel up didn’t prove any problem for him while his performances have been very sharp. His ability to rattle off strong sectionals at the end of his races while remaining smooth is the most pleasing part for me as a trainer.
“We still need luck to win the final but he’s proven that he’s the horse to beat with his victories to date, I knew before the series that the handicap was a big advantage compared to a horse like Our Overanova so hopefully the luck continues.
“Our Overanova spent time with Luke and Belinda last season so I was able to work with him quite closely, he’s a good trotter who will prove very hard to beat while there’s a few others that are capable given the right luck.”
Win, lose or draw, Alchin plans on returning to Sydney where he will freshen-up his stable star before mapping his next campaign.
For Alchin, it’s all about building for a better future.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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