MELTON PREVIEW: ALFORD TAKES REINS OF KIWI IMPORT

By Matt Nicholls

02/08/2012

Pictures: Stuart McCormick, Harness Racing Victoria

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WHILE the thoroughbred industry has just started a new season, harness racing still has a month to go.

Chris Alford has had a season to remember.

The Bolinda trainer/driver is the leading driver in Victoria, having notched up 294 wins from 1524 drives.

One horse that's been able to add to his tally is Triumphant Monarch (pictured).

The New Zealand gelding was flown across the Tasman six weeks ago and has already made his mark on Australia shores.

The son of Earl and Sun Mist finished fourth in the Victoria Trotters Derby at Maryborough last month before winning a T1 to T2 trot at Melton last Friday night (pictured).

Alford said the squaregaiter would be aimed at this month's Breeders Crown final series.

"He'll be racing again on Friday night, but the aim is the Breeders Crown for three-year-old trotters," Alford told Melbourne Racing yesterday.

Triumphant Monarch was sent to Alford by Keith and Robyn Gibson, who own Sundon and stand him at Roydon Lodge stud in Christchurch.

One thing you'll notice about the trotter is his unusual coat.

Alford said Triumphant Monarch was clipped that way when he got off the plane.

"It helps keep the water off them, but they don't clip above the kidneys because the hair keeps them warm," he said.

Alford was confident Triumphant Monarch would race well tomorrow night, after he drew gate two in the mobile start over 1720 metres.

Last week the three-year-old won by 10 metres in a mile rate of 2:02.4.

POOR old Harness Punter.

He started so strongly in his Melbourne Racing tipping debut that he can only go downhill from here.

Or will he?

While you can be sure he won't be winning every week, I reckon he'll keep us "in the black" over the duration.

Last week the Harness Punter tipped readers the quaddie, which would have returned you more than double your money.

The Melton quaddie only paid $427.70, but if you took the Harness Punter's advice, you would have got back $111.20 for your $50 investment.

Tomorrow night, our man has taken Sushi Sushi one out in the second leg, while Catch Your Breath is the Harness Punter's best bet in the penultimate race.

"Catch Your Breath is a claimer who worked very hard early and boxed on bravely in a similar field last time," our expert tipster said.

I reckon he can cross and beat the four to the lead as he isn't drawn directly next to him this week.

"If he leads, he should just win."

Sushi Sushi will start long odds-on in tomorrow night’s Melton Cup.

A blistering heat win last Friday night has the gun four-year-old, who hails from the Sunbury stables of Freddy Taiba, at $1.50 with TAB Sportsbet for the 2240m mobile-start event.

Driver Greg Sugars said he was enjoying the ride with Sushi Sushi, having driven the rising star to 18 wins since they were first paired in August, 2010.

Sushi Sushi will start from barrier six in tomorrow night’s $25,000 final.

We will bring you an in-depth story with Greg Sugars next Thursday.

Two-year-old filly Three Gold Bars won her second race in five starts when successful in last Friday's 2YO Vicbred Pace.

Trained by Michael Hughes and driven by Gavin Lang, the juvenile won the 1720 mobile start race in a handy mile rate of 2:00.2.

After drawing awkwardly, Lang had to push Three Gold Bars out wide in the straight and she got up by a short half-head.

Abettorpunt booked a spot in tomorrow night's Melton Cup with a win in last Friday's heat, but he's going to be hard pressed to beat Sushi Sushi.

The David Lewis-trained gelding won his event quite comfortably, clocking a mile rate of 2:01.02, but he's going to need a lot of luck to win from gate 10 on the back row.

TAB Sportsbet have Abettorpunt as the second favourite at $5.50, but as far as I'm concerned, Sushi Sushi is a good thing at $1.50.

Glen Craven would need to find every shortcut possible to give his charge a chance, while Sushi Sushi will need to have a lot of pressure applied on him to cough up the victory.