27 April 2021 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL COURT
BUOYED by the Group 1 success of “big brother” Jarrod at Menangle on Saturday night, Rickie Alchin will head there today hoping to again put the family name on to the winners’ dais.
Alchin, Rickie that is, will have two short-priced favourites as well as a great each-way chance on the eight-race program.
Renowned as a master conditioner of young horses, Alchin still likes to hang onto a few of the better ones that pass through his stable.
Prolific winning square-gaiter Tough Monarch is one he has retained with some marvellous results in the past couple of years.
Rickie watched brother Jarrod’s youngster My Ultimate Byron streak away to win Saturday night’s $125,000 APG Gold Bullion colts and geldings final at Menangle with another of his brother’s ‘babies’ My Ultimate Cobber finishing third.
Now it’s his turn to show off his training talents with young trotters, starting with Tough Love, listed as a $1.25 favourite in Race 2, a heat of the 2YO Trotters Foundation series.
Tough Love is the only one in the field to have faced the starter and her two placings in Victoria should be enough to give the filly a distinct edge on her rivals today following an impressive Menangle trial win a little over two weeks ago.
Alchin looks to also have a mortgage on Race 4 with his lightly-raced three-year-old gelding Watts Up Majestic.
Back from a stint with Chris Svanosio in Victoria, Watts Up Sunshine put the writing on the wall with a first-up second to Affaire De Cover after a mid-race gallop that cost him his chance of victory.
With only seven rivals to contend with today, Watts Up Sunshine ($1.40 favourite) probably only needs to trot all the way to notch his third win from just 13 starts.
Alchin will also quietly fancy his chances of a win with yet another trotter, Puma Road ($26) in Race 5, the Miracle Mile Restaurant Trotters Mobile.
A winner of 10 of his 70 starts, Puma Road scored back-to-back Menangle wins in March and finished a handy fourth to Sobomba in a similar field at Menangle last week.
Meanwhile brother Jarrod has headed back to Queensland where he is preparing My Ultimate Levi for another Group 1, the $125,000 Gold Bullion final at Albion Park.
Saturday night’s impressive winner, My Ultimate Byron is heading for a brief spell before being prepared for the rich NSW Breeders Challenge.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
