Following Reina Danzante’s win on Sunday at Melton someone congratulated reinsman Chris Alford on winning the metropolitan drivers’ premiership.
But Alford knew his work was not yet done.
“I said ‘Nah, that sneaky bloody (Gavin) Lang … he’s got one in the last. Don’t be surprised if that gets up’,” Alford quipped on Harness Review tonight.
“As we turned for home I saw him shoot to the front (on Whereibylong) and I thought oh, this is no good. And Milly (Perez) really grew wings. About 20m out I thought we had him but his horse kept kicking.”
It meant Alford and Lang finished on 41 wins apiece for 2014-15, with Greg Sugars third on 35 wins. Nathan Jack (23 wins), Anthony Butt (20 wins), Josh Aiken (19 wins), Kate Gath (15 wins), Kerryn Manning (13 wins), Jason Lee (11 wins) and Luke McCarthy (10 wins) rounding out the chart.
Alford said the two long-time rival reinsman had a healthy level of respect for one another, adding he was pleased to share the premiership with Lang despite the latter pipping Alford in the last race by a narrow margin.
“It was good to draw with him,” Alford said.
“It’s a hard thing to do to win a metro premiership, and to come a tie after so many races during the year is a bit funny.”
In fact Alford had a single regret, which may have made all the difference.
“Now I’m just a bit dirty I didn’t talk better in that protest with Five Star Anvil and Exciteusinthecity,” he joked, referencing the night Lang successfully protested after Alford had driven Exciteusinthecity over the line first.
The Harness Review Podcast, featuring the full Alford interview, will be online tomorrow at harness.org.au and on HRV’s Facebook page.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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