Another big cup day haul for leading local trainer

For the third time on Albany Cup day, leading local trainer Steve Wolfe has dominated proceedings at Percy Spencer Racecourse with four individual winners.

Wolfe notched four victories on cup day last year and it was a feat he also achieved in 2012, and once again he was on fire this Sunday as he tasted success with Second Best, Diraja Jewel, Mongolian Warlord and Gauged.

The quartet of winners pushed his season tally to 24 with four meetings left in the Great Southern season as he charges towards yet another trainers’ premiership.

“We sort of target these days a bit and generally cup day has been pretty good,” Wolfe said.

“Young horses are essential for success and Albany is a great nursery for city success.”

Exciting sprinter Mongolian Warlord scored a hat-trick of wins and will now press on to the Skyracing.tv Provincial Championship Series Final at Belmont Park on May 26 after taking the Albany heat over 1230m brilliantly.

The four-year-old gelding lumped big weights at his past two starts in Albany and then made it three consecutive victories, sitting midfield before bursting clear for jockey Shaun McGruddy in the straight to win by 1¾ lengths over Tranquilla Sunrise.

“He won over 1600m with 60kg and comes back to 1230m with 59kg and wins again,” Wolfe said.

“He’s a really exciting little horse that has got a motor.

“I’d say one more run in town before the final and he’ll be hard to beat in that.

“He needed a bit of time but he’s the real deal, this horse.”

Wolfe was also bullish about Gauged after his third win this campaign, winning over 2070m with Peter Knuckey in the saddle.

“I thought he was our best of the day and he won accordingly,” he said. “I feel he could have nearly won the cup yesterday but we’ve been patient with him and let him learn the craft.

“There is plenty of upside with him and he’ll be a cups horse next year.”

Maiden galloper Second Best broke through at his second career start earlier in the day, the first leg of a double for McGruddy, while apprentice Andrew Castle guided Diraja Jewel home in the Seacorp Handicap (1230m).

Wolfe almost won Saturday’s listed Grandstand Cup (1500m) at Ascot with in-form galloper Red Ora.

Red Ora went down by a short half head to Falcon Crest but since joining the Wolfe stable has won $180,500 in stakes in five starts.