Menangle Park trainer Jarrod Alchin. Photo by Club Menangle
THERE will be no surprise in watching Jarrod Alchin make his way into the winners' circle following Saturday night's Australian Pacing Gold Final at Club Menangle.
What may cause a shock is the reason Alchin is in the number one stall.
Alchin has two runners engaged in the $100,000 feature, with Peachesncream a dominant $1.70 TAB Fixed Odds favourite despite drawing barrier eight.
Impressing during her trials - with three wins and a second from four hit outs - Peachesncream lived up to the hype by capturing an APG Prelude upon debut on June 2.
With Cam Hart holding the reins, the daughter of Ultimate Machete covered the mile in 1:55.8.
Contesting the same qualifier, Paiges Boulder finished 23 metres behind her stablemate with Bailey McDonough in the cart.
To be driven by McDonough again, Paiges Boulder is a $31 outsider from gate six.
Naturally Alchin is confident Peachesncream can maintain her undefeated status, but the astute horseman also believes Paiges Boulder could be 'the smokie'.
"Peachesncream is a very nice filly, which I'm certain will get better with racing," Alchin said. "In fact, she will have a short break after the APG Final in preparation for a busy back end of the season and I believe that time off will do her the world of good.
"Given the way she has progressed, I reckon she will come back even better after a short break.
"Peachesncream is the one to beat in the Final, but don't be surprised if Paiges Boulder causes an upset.
"Paiges Boulder only went fair in the prelude, but her work since has really come one.
"In fact, she has been working better than Peachesncream, so she could be the smokie at big odds."
ELSEWHERE on the card, Wicked Motion has an opportunity to break his maiden at the perfect time this weekend.
Making his debut in an Australian Pacing Gold Prelude at Club Menangle a fortnight ago, Wicked Motion finished second behind series favourite Don Hunter, beaten a neck in 1:54.4 over a mile.
Set for a rematch in the $100,000 Final, the son of Mcwicked has drawn to settle in a favourable from barrier three.
Pleased with the two-year-old's progress, trainer Brad Hewitt is quietly confident Wicked Motion can cause an upset.
"He went well," Hewitt said. "He didn't pace as nicely as he should, and raced greenly, but he still went well.
"I'm hoping it was just a matter of it being his first time there, while running quickly...the occasion got to him!
"He's been a tricky horse to get going, but had been alright before that run and since.
"He will want to improve, but he's got the draw in his favour and it's only a small field, so he should get his chance."
Hewitt has no doubt Don Hunter remains the one to beat despite drawing wide in barrier six for Luke McCarthy.
McCarthy also has Our Main Man, which finished sixth in the prelude, drawn gate four,
Our Main Man is from former top mare Musical Delight, which captured the 2012 APG Final in Melton for Victorian couple Gary and Debbie Quinlan.
"Hunter is obviously the class runner of the field and one to beat," Hewitt said. "We got close to him last time, so hopefully we can beat him this time.
"He was first-up from a break and no doubt Luke will have him a lot fitter this time, so it won't be easy."
