Jarrod Alchin has driven in the Red Ochre Mares Classic final before, even started as favourite, but has never managed to win the feature race on the Dubbo Harness Racing Club calendar.
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But if he could win it this year it would be an even more special achievement.
Despite having driven at Dubbo before, he had never brought any of his own stable out to the Dubbo track until last week’s Red Ochre heats.
Two of his mares, Ima Mystery Girl and Lombo Newsy Scoop, both eased through and will line up in the final on Friday night in what is expected to be a bumper crowd.
The local Carnival of Cups meeting coincides with the Dubbo Show, creating an electric atmosphere at the track.
“I’ve never brought my own horses to race at Dubbo so it would be good (to win),” Alchin said.
“And Group 3 races like this don’t come around every day on the bush tracks and I’m a country boy from Temora so I like to get out to these bush tracks as much as I can.”
Alchin will drive Ima Mystery Girl from gate eight in the final while Bathurst’s Ashlee Grives will drive Lombo Newsy Scoop.
While the latter finished just a neck of winning the second heat, Ima Mystery Girl impressed when running third in the opening heat last weekend and the favourable draw has added to Alchin’s confidence.
“It was a bad draw (in the heat) and she got back but her sections were really good and she hit the line well so she’ll come on well in the final. She hadn’t raced for a few weeks so she needed that run,” Alchin said, before talking about the draw.
“It couldn’t have been any better. The mare in front has got enough gate speed to hold a fair position and we shouod be able to post well too.
“It depends on what happens with the others but we should get out well. She’s pulled up really well too.”
Alchin, based at Menangle, has spent the week at Dubbo at Barry Lew’s property.
He said he “couldn’t be happier” with his horses after the week in town, adding “there’s no excuses” for the pair, particularly Ima Mystery Girl, not to perform well in the final.
While positive his chances, Alchin was by no means going in overconfident.
The trainer-driver stated if the Shane and Lauren Tritton trained My Rona Gold got to the lead early from gate four it could be all over early while there is plenty of talent elsewhere in the race.
“It’s a good, strong field,” Alchin said.
“My Rona Gold raced in a big race at Menangle a couple of weeks ago and Takara Truffle raced in the Oaks.
“Lovin Miss Daisy was in the same race as My Rona Gold so there’s plenty of depth on that frontline.”
The Aaron Goadsby trained Takara Truffle will start outside Lombo Newsy Scoop in gate two while last year’s finalist Miss Rodriguez will go from gate six with Emma Turnbull in the gig.
Friday’s eight-race meeting at Dubbo Harness Racing Club starts at 4.58pm with the Red Ochre final the seventh event at 8.03pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
