JARROD Alchin trained his first Group 1 winner last month when Bacardi Hurricane won the Need For Speed Prince Final at Melton. The Menangle trainer has a number of talented square-gaiters in his stable including Paris Pepperell and Our Dainty Lady with the pair set to compete on their home track on Saturday night.
Alchin will drive Paris Pepperell while Nathan Jack has been booked to take the reins behind Our Dainty Lady but punters should be aware that Alchin’s decision to drive the daughter of Armbro Variable is not an indication that he believes she is the better winning chance.
“I’m driving Paris Pepperell because since she arrived in my stable I’ve been the only one to drive her at the races and Nathan Jack drove Our Dainty Lady in the majority of her races when she campaigned in Victoria recently and knows her very well,” Alchin said.
“I can’t split my two to be honest, if there isn’t a lot of speed in the early stages then I think Paris Pepperell has a great winning chance because her run last week was very good and if there is a lot of speed on and Our Dainty Lady gets a cold sit on the speed she’ll be very hard to hold out.”
Alchin will be involved in every race at Menangle on Saturday night after picking up four outside drives and finds it hard to nominate his best winning chance.
“All of my drives are going to need some luck and if they get that then they’re going to be in the finish. However I think that my best chance of winning a race is the last with one of the trotters.”
Alchin will drive Crackerjack Jo and Beetson for Bathurst trainer Peter Trevor-Jones in the first two races. The first of his stable representatives will be Gidup Spanish Red in race three.
“His run last week was really good, I copped a slight check in the straight and I think without the check I would have won the race. The distance on Saturday night is a big plus for my horse too.”
“Gidup Spanish Red doesn’t have the speed to cross the one but he shouldn’t be too far away from them when they settle down and I think he has got a good chance.”
In race four Alchin will drive Neverending Drama for Jack Primmer while he qualified Floyd Mayweather for the night’s feature event, race five in last week’s heat.
“I’m really happy with Floyd Mayweather, if he won the race I would be very surprised but I do think he can get into the placings, he just keeps on performing each time he goes to the races.
“In the sixth race I’m driving Double Event for Harry Martin against Beautide. He’s drawn well and has got speed but I think Beautide is going to take a lot of beating.”
In the seventh race Alchin will drive underrated mare Lauramegan. The daughter of Tinted Cloud has been racing without luck and from the wide draw is going to need a change of fortune to be a winning hope.
“Lauramegan is low flying at the moment and I think she is going to win a race as soon as she can draw a gate. Her run last week was outstanding after she messed up the start.
“From barrier nine I’ll have to go back and hope there is some speed on but if things fell her way I think she would be right in the finish.”
While Alchin will be busy on Saturday night he has been busily preparing campaigns for two other horses in his stable that will not race this weekend. Bacardi Hurricane is set to race next Tuesday and is being set for the NSW Trotters Derby while two-year-old trotter Roll Tide could head toward the New Zealand Jewels if everything fell into place.
“Bacardi Hurricane worked earlier this week and it was the best he has ever produced. I think the trip to Melbourne has been a really good thing for him. The main goal is the NSW Trotters Derby but then there is a couple of races in Victoria for him too and he is Breeders Challenge eligible as well.
“I’m really excited with Roll Tide, he will compete in the Foundation Series in Sydney and he might head to Victoria for the Tatlow. If he continues to improve and performs strongly I’d even consider taking him to New Zealand for the Sires Stakes and if his form warranted it, they may even invite us to the Jewels. He is a real talent.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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