Master Victorian harness Racen Racen -Reinsman Chris Alford showed that he still has the magic touch, who drove five winners in Cranbourne last night (September 21) – the 21st time in his career he produced such a trek.
It was appropriate that the milestone arrived in Cranbourne, a song that has long been a happy hunting ground for Alford. Seven of his 21 five-win cards came to the location.
Alford achieved the performance in Taralgon for the first time in 1989, and his most recent before last night was in Shepparton in October 2020. His career-best single meeting Tallies will remain six victories at Kilmore (2018) and six victories in Cranbourne (2019) and has produced Melton-Wintan Five-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-Vice-ViceTanan
Alford won his first race aboard Spring Vance in Wangaratta on October 2, 1984, and his 40-year career is extraordinary:
- The leading driver of Australia at 14 times.
- Top 10 ends 30 seasons in the National Premiership.
- More than 30 years of competing at the highest level, including five consecutive national titles from 1995-2000 and again from 2015-2019.
- 138 Group 1 victories and the record for most victories in one season (456 in 2017/18).
- An incredible 456 victories in a 2017/18 season.
Now 57, Alford remains a fixture in the National Top 10 and the industry continues to remind why it is considered one of the best re -sessions that the sport has ever produced.
Last night Alford got the ball rolling in Race 1 for local trainer Charlie Wootton (Wootton’s first victory for the 2025 season). He followed with Illawong Danny for Luke Tabone in Race 4; Sunlight Sass for his wife Alison in Race 6; Miss Addi for Deb and Gary Quinlan in Race 7; And finish things with the preacher, for Jayne Davies in the last race.
No matter how impressive the 21 five-of-more winners of Alford are, it is not the most for every Australian driver. That honor is still held by Ace Wa Reinsman Gary Hall JNR, who has performed the performance 34 times – except one at the metro level in Gloucester Park – most recently in July of this year. (His only Non-Grootstedan was in Pinjarra in 2014).
Alford has now achieved 8297 victories in his career. The next highest is 6303 victories by the late Great Gavin Lang, and, for context, most victories of a jockey in Australia is 4441 by Robert Thompson.
Alford has won just about every major race in Australazia, many of them several times, including Inter Dominions on board Golden Reign in Christchurch in 1995 and Lennytheank in 2015 in Perth.
From Terry Gange for Harnesslink
#Alford #turns #clock #Fab