Alfie’s Double Hat-Trick

It was two almost identical hat-tricks in two days – 14,500km apart – for the stock of Alfred Nobel, WA’s most promising sire.

Chetan led throughout to win the Totetrifecta Handicap (six furlongs) at Chelmsford in England on Tuesday by 2 1/2 lengths. He had been successful over six furlongs at Yarmouth and Lingfield at his previous two runs.

Then Regal Gleam led to win the Raceday Sponsorship Handicap (1200m) at Belmont Park on Wednesday by 3 1/2 lengths. She had won over 1200m at Belmont Park at her previous two starts.

Alfred Nobel completed the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes-Group 2 Railway Stakes double in Ireland in 2009 for jockey Johnny Murtagh and trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The Phoenix Stakes, first run in 1902, was won by Alfred Nobel’s sire, Danehill Dancer, the sire of 171 Stakes winners, in 1995. The Railway Stakes was first run in 1851 and other winners include all-time greats Nijinsky, El Gran Señor and Rock Of Gibraltar.

Alfred Nobel, in Australia’s top 10 second season sires in the recently completed 2015-16 season, stands for $4,500, plus GST, at Lynward Park Stud, Bullsbrook.