Alrighty and Unclad show class in their wins at Melton

Lightly raced but highly promising trotter Alrighty (Skyvalley) continues to impress with a solid harness racing win in the Aldebaran Park Trot at Melton on Saturday evening.

The four year old gelding was on the second line but avoided trouble when Farroukh galloped from barrier three when the field was dispatched.

Driver Jordan Leedham sent Alrighty around the field on but there was some anxious moments when he appeared to be racing roughly. Once balanced up Alrighty was then able to get to the front without too much trouble.

ALRIGHTY 8 AUG REPLAY

Smart mare Keayang Kurki who had led surrendered the front and from then on always looked like winning.

Driver Jordan Leedham indicated his confidence after the event.

When I was poking through he seemed as if he wanted to go a bit faster and just had to get balanced there for a few strides. But I never felt he was going to break or do anything like that. Once he balanced up and powered on with it he showed how good he is.

He just got to amble around and he found the front nice and easy just under his own steam even though we were bowling even that’s the better way he races when you let him do his own thing. He didn’t look as dominant but sitting behind him, he felt as if he was holding them off with ease.

Alrighty is raced by his breeder Bryan Healy. Alrighty is out of Why Maori but her dam was the former brilliant mare Somethingaboutmaori. Raced and trained by Bryan Healy throughout her colourful career Somethingaboutmaori had a formidable record taking out such classic features as the Moonee Valley Trot Grand Prix, South Australia Trotters Cup, 2004 Inter Dominion Trotters Final and the Scotch Notch memorial.

As a two year old Alrighty won the Platinum Classic but missed the Trotters Derbies.

The three year old trotters was won by the highly promising Unclad (Quaker Jet) who came from the rear of the field to record a convincing win. The race was robbed of interest with the late scratching of Pastor Dunbar which then meant that Howdy Mate was installed a hot favourite.

And once his driver James Herbertson took him to the front he looked the one to beat. Chris Alford on Unclad bided his time as he gradually crept closer although he was still spotting Howdy Mate about ten metres as they turned for home. But Unclad kept going and he pressured Howdy Mate to the point where he broke up.

UNCLAD 8 AUG REPLAY

Trained by Chris’s wife Alison, Unclad has only had 14 starts for five wins and four placings and he looks to have more improvement in him.

He surprised me, he didn’t come off the gate very well so we ended up well back and the leader got so an easy run in front (Howdy Mate) I thought we had no show. But I thought hopefully we could round a few of them in the last 400 metres. When I pulled him out he sprinted like a jet really.

I think I had his measure (Howdy Mate) before he broke up. When James had to push it he got a bit wonky. That made our job a little easier.

Certainly on the basis of that performance Unclad will race into Victoria Derby contention to be staged later this season.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink