Alford is grumpy about Grumpee

Champion reinsman Chris Alford fired a broadside at the National Rating System after his four-year-old harness racing trotter Grumpee (Muscle Mass) took out the Wedderburn Trotters Cup.

Coming off a 10 metre handicap, Grumpee settled mid field in the running line before the leader Sangreal reeled off a slick 27.6 back straight quarter and Alford didn’t have to make his run until rounding the home turn.

Once in the home straight, Grumpee ($13) gave chase and produced a stout finale to score running away by three metres from Baltica and Majestical Belle.

Grumpee’s last win was in September last year and Alford admitted he wasn’t filled with confidence prior to the race.

“He surprised me,” Alford said.

Alford was incensed with the 10 metre handicap allocated to Grumpee.

“He won four three-year-old races and after one start in open class he was giving horses who have won 20 races a 10 metre start,” he said.

“The ratings system rewards mediocre horses who have had 100 starts and we have a lot of races with those horses in them-punters don’t want to bet in those races which doesn’t help turnover.”

Chris Alford is now only 3 wins away from 8000 after steering Grumpee to victory in the Priority 1 Property Wedderburn Trotters Cup at Maryborough today. #Puppet8000 pic.twitter.com/wKPv9LYI0E

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) January 28, 2024

Later in the day Alford completed a winning double on the Sue Hunter trained Lethal Lover taking him to 7998 career wins.

Alford admitted he has pondered on the perfect stage to chalk up his 8000th career win.

“It would be nice to do it at Melton on Hunter Cup night behind Queen Elida in a heat of the Great Southern Star,” he said.

“What do I do with him now as he’s probably not good enough to give those horses a 20 metre start

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink