Back-to-back for Alfords

Bolinda husband and wife driver-trainer combination Chris and Alison Alford made it back-toback victories in The Maori Legend when two-year-old gelding Dreamee led from go to whoa in winning the feature event at Stawell’s Laidlaw Park.

The Alford stable had saluted in the 2018 edition of The Maori Legend with its filly Sleepee, which went on last season to capture the prestigious Breeders Crown final at Melton for breeder-owner Colin Murphy.

Alford made use of Dreamee’s natural early speed to cross to the pegs within the first 150 metres of the 2180-metre trip and when the $2.10 favourite Dublin Chubb – Kerryn Manning – broke stride shortly after, was always going to be hard to run down. With Dreamee setting a moderate tempo early, Manning made up enormous ground to find the back of the bunch with 1200 metres to go, with second favourite Pink Galahs – Matty Craven – in the sweet spot, one-out-one-back in the running line.

Alford upped the ante at the 400-metre mark, scooting clear of his rivals and although Pink Galahs and Dublin Chubb tried hard down the home stretch, they were unable to peg back the leader.

The Stawell club should be delighted with the development of its now annual feature event which was first taken out by Andys Favourite – Chris Lang – in 2005.

In 2012 the race changed from a standing start to a mobile start and was taken out by Hilltown Yankee for trainer Shane Hall and driver Chris Alford.

The champion reinsman was also successful in the last ‘Maori’ to be started behind the tapes, with the Kiwi trotter Sunset Invasion in 2011.

All going well, Dreamee will next line up in the $50,000 Group One Redwood Classic at Maryborough on August 4.

• Hoofnote – It was great to see driver Matty Craven wearing the famous green and gold ‘Maori’ colours aboard Pink Galahs at Stawell. The filly was bred by Bryan Healy’s daughter Laura who races the youngster in partnership with her husband Caleb Lewis.