Albury, Wellington previews: Trucks trying to deliver an upset win

The connections of local horse Gottaluvtrucks decided it was worth having a throw at the stumps in Friday’s Listed Albury Gold Cup (2000m).

That’s despite him coming off a fourth placing at Corowa over 1300m off a nine-week let up.

Trainer Donna Scott said while it’s not the ideal preparation for a 2000m race and that it would have been ideal if he had 1600m run as well in the lead up, she didn’t blame the owners for wanting to give him this tough assignment in the main race.

Winona Costin (pictured) rides Gittaluvtrucks for trainer Donna Scott. Picture: Getty Images

“It wasn’t a race we planned but the owners wanted to throw a nomination in thinking it wouldn’t be overly strong,” she said.

“He’s fresh and well, has drawn well and funnier things have happened.”

Scott knows while her Camelot six-year-old is an outsider and a win would be upset, it’s not the hardest local Cup races she’s seen over the years.

“It’s probably a bit of a disappointing race for what it is. There’s still some class there but it used to be a full field,” Scott said.

“Matty Dale’s horse (Five Kingdom) is in with a chance.”

Scott thinks her best winning chance will come in the first race with Lots Of Fiddles who ran third behind My Bold Boy two weeks ago and it came out and won at Albury on Thursday.

“It will be a tough day and I think Lots Of Fiddies is my best chance. The form is holding up,” Scott said.

Maurice’s Medad is a good chance of running in the Albury Cup after plenty of rain hit Sydney on Thursday.

He’s nominated for the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday but is looking for sunny skies to race under which Albury will provide.

“He is underrated,” trainer Bjorn Baker said.

“The one thing want for him is a Good track.”

Roman will likely be scratched from the Albury Cup and be saved for another country cup race on the weekend.

“I’ve accepted in the Wellington Cup on Sunday where he’s drawn well so that is the most likely route for him,” co-trainer Paul Jones said.

“It’s an easier race than the Albury Cup. It’s got more fringe Saturday Sydney horses in it compared to the Albury Cup where there’s a few Group horses.”

Jones has Manderboss in a Class 3 Handicap (1500m) on Friday at Albury and after he produced a very big run from the back of the field at Canberra go win last start.

It didn’t surprise his trainers.

“No-one can work with him,” Jones said.

“He’s never been beaten in a track gallop and his work on Monday was excellent.

“I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t in the top three. He is coming to the end of his preparation and might need a little break before we target the Wagga Guineas in about six weeks’ time.”

He came down the outside last start but that will be hard to do from barrier one.

“Barrier one is better than 12 but I don’t think barrier will be that important,” Jones said.

“The fact he got so far back the other day wasn’t ideal. He’ll have to navigate a path but it’s not a big field and it will probably get smaller.

“We saw the sort of horse that we knew we had. He’s one of our best track workers.

Clint Lundholm has a huge team in at Wellington on Friday but the stable highlight could come in the last race on the card.

The Dubbo trainer has Ferus, Watch Me Rumble and Blackadder in the final event, a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) and first two are coming out of a Country Championships qualifying race where they ran well without qualifying.

“I’ve got three really good chances there,” Lundholm said.

“Ferus has only had two runs for the stable for two thirds and he’s been terrific after running into a few decent horses.

“He’s third-up and running right into his peak fitness now and must be a very good chance.”

Ferus will be ridden by 4kg claiming apprentice Jake Barrett but he does have barrier one which is a help for the inexperienced hoop.

Clint Lundholm can dominate the final event at Wellington on Friday. Picture: Grant Guy

“He will put himself right on the speed and he should get every opportunity. I’d say he’s the best of our three, but take nothing away from the other two,” Lundholm said.

“I just think he’ll be at the top of his game on Friday.

“Watch Me Rumble is a young filly coming through the stable and she didn’t have much go her way in the qualifying race but ran on strongly.

“They’re two nice horses then you’ve got Blackadder who won at Coonamble last time in a Showcase meeting. They’re all in form and should all run well in that race.”

Angie Emm kicks off the day for Lundholm in the opening event, a Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m).

She put in an eye-catching run when coming from 12th to run third at Gunnedah two weeks ago over the same trip.

“She’s been very consistent,” Lundholm said.

“At her past two she’s been a little slow away from the gates but has run on quite strongly.

“She’s placed well and has races well at Wellington previously so she looks like a really nice chance.”