After a season of star-studded triumphs it would be a two-year-old maiden who would ultimately see Chris Alford anointed the SBG Accountants Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership, winning by one from Gavin Lang.
The veteran reinsmen’s season long to and fro proved captivating to the last race, with Alford and Lang entering Wednesday night’s Breeders Crown silver races tied at 47 wins apiece.
With a win on Kheiron in the night’s opening race, the Aldebaran Park Breeders Crown two-year-old silver trot, Alford took his tally to 48 and that would be enough.
“Metro races aren’t easy to come by, it’s a huge thrill,” Alford said. “A whole year of work goes into it. You can’t win these things unless you’ve got great people to drive for and great horses to drive.
“I only take 10 per cent of the credit because I drive horses mostly trained by other people and I just put the polish on the finished product and happy I can do the job.”
Making it all the more memorable was the on-going showdown with Lang, a regular fixture of the premiership race.
Alford now leads the premiership ledger 12-5, with both having added a notch this time last year when Lang won the season’s final race to draw level with Alford, who finished second in the deciding race, beaten only a neck.
It’s a familiar tale.
“Way back when, I can’t even remember how many years, we were in one (premiership race) at Moonee Valley,” Alford said. “We started the day together, I think we won seven of the nine races together, it was me, him, me, him, me, him and then I got up and beat him in the last race.
“It was ironic last year that he got up and dead heated in the last race with me when he beat me by a head.”
This year the title looked to be heading Lang’s way, with Greg Sugars to place a close third.
“On Friday I had two drives, not even a metro one, (Gavin) had Hectorjayjay, which looked over the line,” Alford said.
“Then, of course, Sunday it looked like he had a lot of good chances. Mine were pretty good chances in the Breeders Crown without being good things, and then we come to tonight level and both our drives looked pretty fair on paper. Thankfully mine won in the first one.
“We compete hard on the track but when we are back in the drivers’ room it’s just back to normal. We’ll have a beer if we are out and about, it’s just good healthy sportsmanship.”
Alford also won the Melton Saddlery State Drivers’ Premiership, while Emma Stewart did the training double, winning the Renown Silverware State Trainers’ Premiership and the Taylors Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership.
For the third straight year Jason Lee won the Alabar Concession Drivers’ Premiership.
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