Albany sprinters Red Can Man and This’ll Testya primed for attack on $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes

Red Can Man’s hopes of Group 1 glory were dealt a blow when the Albany star drew barrier 17 for the $1.5 million Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.

The brilliant Steve Wolfe-prepared galloper will contest the feature race on day three of the Pinnacles carnival along with This’ll Testya who carries the hopes of a big group of Albany owners.

An outstanding field of 16 sprinters has been assembled for this year’s Winterbottom Stakes, with Red Can Man out to better his seventh place finish in the same race last year.

After a Victorian stint in winter where he finished fourth in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality, Red Can Man was terrific when resuming in WA earlier this month.

The six-year-old finished a gallant second to This’ll Testya in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes under set weights and penalties conditions.

The Winterbottom Stakes is a weight for age race and Red Can Man will be chasing his first Group 1 victory for his veteran trainer and Albany connections.

He is one of the highest rated horses in the race, which contains interstate stars Rothfire, Vilana, Paulele and The Astrologist among a stack of WA talent.

Jockey Shaun McGruddy said Red Can Man ($18) was flying ahead of the big one.

“The best ever, it’s the best he’s ever felt,” McGruddy told TAB Radio.

“I think it’s just because of his feet, in the past Wolfey has had trouble with his feet so credit to him and the farriers and whoever else has helped.

“In the past he’s hung out under pressure late, wanted to sort of drift out under pressure and on Saturday that was the most even he’s ever felt and the straightest he’s ever gone.

“As long as he’s in one piece come Saturday, he’s in the best position possible to go as close as he can.”

Rothfire ($4.60), Vilana ($5.50) and boom WA sprinter Elite Street ($6) head the betting in the race and McGruddy believes Miss Conteki ($13) will be hard to beat.

“Yes, obviously you’ve got Miss Conteki who probably has the best turn of foot of any horse in the State and I hadn’t really watched a replay until (this week) of the Colonel Reeves and it was the run of the race (Miss Conteki), I think whatever beats her wins the race,” he said

“I think it’s our best race, I know everyone likes to win the Railways but the field wasn’t as good as what I think the Winterbottom field is.

“I think it’s going to be the race of the carnival and I think it was potentially that way last year if you look back. In Australia we breed the best sprinters in the world, not so much the stayers anymore, and I think it’s definitely the case in WA.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ridden without winning a good race ... he’s only won two listed races and that was the Fairetha and the Bolton Sprint, but what he’s been able to do is earn well over a million dollars by running placings to very, very good horses.

“Although he’s never beaten a good horse, he’s never far away from our top sprinters in this State and obviously the country.”

This’ll Testya drew barrier nine for trainer Mitchell Pateman and jockey Lucy Warwick.

The speedy seven-year-old mare is in career best form and was a $14 chance on Wednesday.