Trainer-driver Rickie Alchin.
IT’S hardly surprising that Menangle Park horseman Rickie Alchin’s team are firing in two states.
As he prepares to handle three favourites at Menangle tonight and check on his four runners in Queensland, where is the former Riverina horseman on the eve of a huge night?
He’s on his way to Temora to pick up some broodmares for the stable and is spending most of his day on the road before returning to Menangle.
There he will drive three of the shortest-priced favourites of the night . . . Watts Up Majestic (Race 7), Tough Love (Race 8) and Tough Monarch in Race 10.
No doubt there will be a few telephone calls to Queensland too with One Big Shew, Watts Up Sunshine, Girls Are Best and Crunch Time also expected to perform well in the Sunshine State.
“Rick Hunt and Will Rixon are looking after things in Queensland and they’re doing a great job,” said Alchin.
“Watts Up Sunshine is a good chance in Brisbane.
“Crunch Time raced too fiercely last start and needs to settle better, while Girls Are Best is racing really well and looks a good place chance up there.
“All three in Sydney are terrific chances and with a bit of luck we could have a really good night.”
Alchin said he was enjoying driving the better horses in the better races.
“Although I do like to give everyone else a bit of a go as well,” he said.
While Alchin would never completely rule out another New Zealand trip for his veteran square-gaiter Tough Monarch, he did hint the grand old campaigner was more likely to stick around NSW and Qld.
“I’d like to think he could go, but I’d say not – there’s too many costs now,” he said.
“He’s back going well but the horses over there are hard to beat and I wouldn’t take him over there just to make up the numbers.
“He’s been there twice and done a super job both times.”
Alchin has 14 in work in Qld and about 20 back at Menangle and will rotate a couple more between the two states.
“It’s pretty busy up there at Redcliffe so we’re up at 4am to get ‘em all worked,” he said.
“After that you have some time and I’ll be up there until the end of winter.
“I might even leave Rick Hunt up there with some of the team for another month after the carnival finishes.”
