Fierce competition for invitational
As he headed out onto the track for the final race in the Noel Smith Memorial Horsham Invitation Drivers Championship, driver Chris Alford looked steeled and determined – a picture of concentration.
Alford was driving The Sparrow Hawk for his neighbouring trainer Brent Lilley, of Bolinda, and the lightly raced five-year-old gelding had shown enough to be thereabouts at the finish.
The champion reinsman takes enormous pride in his ability with the reins and rates every race as important for the owners and trainers who entrust him with their horses.
This race was no different, but as an aside Alford was also right in the mix to take out his third Horsham invitation title.
After winning the first heat with $1.80-favourite Artful Christian for Terang trainer Chris Svanosio, Alford drove 60-1 outsider Farastheeyecansee for Adelaide trainer Toby Ryan in the second heat, but managed to beat only one other runner home.
Fourth in heat four with Turning Express for Mt Gambier trainer David Drury earned Alford valuable points and a great chance of taking out the title.
While co-leader Kerryn Manning was piloting a 100-1 chance in the final heat and virtually out of the contest, Alford’s arch-rival and four time Horsham invitation champion Gavin Lang was still alive after posting a victory in the third heat with $1.90-favourite Cruz, for Werribee trainer Jeff Tarbone.
On paper it looked a match race between a couple of hardened veterans – Alford with 35,000 career drives under the belt and approaching 6000 winners, and Lang with some 30,200 drives and also in sight of the magical 6000 mark.
The final event of the afternoon produced best finish of the four invitation events, with a bunch of seven runners spread over just three metres of the track on the line.
The judge called for a photo and announced Alford and The Sparrow Hawk had been pipped on the post by Greg Sugars aboard $2.40 favourite Blazedale for Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart.
Lang wasn’t far away in fifth place aboard a somewhat unlucky Jilliby Shania, Manning predictably tailed the field home, and so it was Alford who claimed the Noel Smith Memorial Shield.
Alford also had the honour of handing over the Gary Chequer commemorative wooden spoon, which he had collected in 2016, to a first-time invitee, the young New South Wales visitor Todd Mccarthy. Marnoo-owned and bred galloper Ma Jones returned to form at Tatura on Sunday.
The Darren Weir-trained six-year-old took her place in the $35,000 Ladbrokes Cup over 1600 metres, with Dean Yendall in the saddle.
Yendall, box-seating just behind the speed, gave Ma Jones a beautiful ride. The daughter of Bianconi cruised into the race off a solid tempo, stalking the leaders.
Once in the straight, Ma Jones dashed away from Polar Vortex to score a dominant win by three lengths on the post.
Ma Jones has been arguably unlucky in her past few starts, however, has still been a good money-spinner for her owner Garry Baker. Her record stands at 18 starts for five wins and four minor placings with stake earnings of $121,300.
Earlier in the day, Yendall was successful for Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver. The Oliver yard had Bella Missile in an 1100-metre maiden plate. In similar fashion to Ma Jones, Yendall camped the daughter of Northern Meteor behind the leaders, giving her every chance.
Bella Missile peeled out in to clear galloping room, coming with a strong run.
The six-year-old mare proved too classy for her rivals, recording a one-and-a-halflength victory on the post.
Yendall chalked up 100 winners for the season at the Tatura meeting and looks a big chance for another Victorian jockeys title again this year.