CRANBOURNE trainer Alex Rae is hoping to make it a memorable week for his small stable at The Valley tomorrow where he has two good chances representing him in Chief Altony and Shock ’Em Ova.
The young trainer saddled up Secret Palace to win at Sandown during the week and said it was “a big day for the stable” tomorrow with two solid chances.
Chief Altony is favourite for Ranvet Travis Harrison Cup (1600 metres) and the trainer is hoping luck can go his way after three placings since his last win.
“He was very unlucky in his two seconds after his win at Sandown and then I probably pulled the wrong rein by going to Sydney over 1400 metres last start but hindsight’s a wonderful thing,” Rae said.
“I was hoping the heavy track would give him an advantage but in the run he was third which tells you they weren’t going hard and then they sprinted away from him. They were just a bit too sharp but he finished off well and it was a good performance to get a placing in a listed race,” Rae said.
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Rae was referring to Chief Altony’s last start third in the Winter Stakes over 1400 metres at Randwick behind two in-form horses in Taksu and Jojo Was A Man.
“This looks a nice race at The Valley. He loves the distance, races well at the track, drawn out and has no weight. It’s a good opportunity for him to win a Saturday race,” Rae said.
Chief Altony has had two runs at The Valley over 1600 metres for two seconds placings with the last one behind subsequent Doncaster Handicap winner Mr Brightside and he gave him two kilos.
Rae said he was throwing Shock ‘Em Ova, who won his debut over 1600m at Cranbourne in a maiden, in the deep end taking on the 2040 metres three-year-old event but he thought it was a worthwhile move.
“He’ll run the distance out. It’s impossible to line his form up but it’s worthwhile throw at the stumps against his own age group,” Rae said.
