By Neil Evans
A string of tough sprinters will tackle a major stepping stone race at Monday’s Albury meeting just 24 days before the club’s feature autumn carnival.
An ultra-competitive Benchmark 66 Hcp over 1175m will act as the likely forerunner for some candidates headed for the $75,000 City Handicap over the same distance on March 20, the first day of the Albury Cup carnival.
Albury trainer Ron Stubbs saddles up Cooee on his home track today.Credit: Getty
Heading the list is a still untapped and locally-trained six-year-old who lines up for just his fourth start, yet is already chasing a third career win.
Cooee, a gelded son of group 1 winner Holler in the Ron Stubbs stable, reloads after missing the abandoned meeting on February 6.
That came after he returned from a 30-week spell with a fighting front-running effort in a BM 58 at Wagga over 1200m when only collared in the final strides.
But Cooee is unbeaten on his home track, having swept home to win on debut last May before claiming a Class 1 18 days later.
Yet with more to learn and lessons to be gained, he was spelled for the remainder of 2024 before returning in the New year.
Cooee is likely to target the headline carnival sprint, or may even start sooner in a Saturday Highway if he claims Monday’s sprint.
But there’ll be little or no room for error against some hardened rivals. Tough Wagga mare Dupride Star looms as a serious threat third-up over further after two solid closing runs over 1000m to kick start the new prep.
Canberra launches a two-prong four-year-old assault on the race with talented Mountain Chatter second-up and chasing a fourth win from just eight starts; while Chop The Ice is also second-up over a suitably longer journey.
Victorian mare Sheila, Queanbeyan mare Mooshaka, and resuming home tracker Just Like Liam may all come in for market support in what promises to be the most robust betting race on the program.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
Lloyd outed for winning run on Step Aside
Craig Kerry
Zac Lloyd opted to miss the opening program of the Sydney autumn after receiving a five-meeting ban for careless riding during his winning effort on Step Aside on Saturday at Rosehill.
Lloyd was the star of Silver Slipper Stakes day with five victories, including the Hobartville Stakes win on Broadsiding. However, he was charged for shifting out on Step Aside in race three when not clear of Baroque Road, which was forced wide and into the path of Cadetship.
Lloyd pleaded not guilty but was found at fault. He chose to start the week-long ban this Wednesday, ruling him out of Saturday’s Randwick card featuring the group 1 Surround and Verry Elleegant Stakes, rather than the following week.
Lloyd rode Surround favourite Lady Shenandoah to her last-start win in the Light Fingers Stakes.
