Defiantly, Proxy up for Cup

Albany trainer Garry Delane is steering both Defiantly and Proxy towards next Sunday’s $100,000 Albany Cup (2100m), with the pair to press their respective claims at two different tracks over the next couple of days.

Talented mare Defiantly will contest the final race in Albany today, as she looks to improve on a last-start third over 1910m at Percy Spencer Racecourse.

Delane will head up to Narrogin on Sunday where veteran stayer Proxy tackles the $70,000 Narrogin Cup, after finishing second in Albany last start over 1925m.

Defiantly has had three runs this preparation, after a sensational campaign in the middle of last year when she won five races including a Saturday metropolitan success, and Delane was confident of her chances in today’s Albany & Districts Volunteer Firies Handicap (1932m).

“She should have won her last three this campaign, we’ve just had no luck in any of the runs,” he said.

“We will roll the dice with her and try and target some of the upcoming cups races.

“Hopefully she gets into an Albany Cup but we will see what happens with nominations and acceptances.

“I have her going as good as ever, she just needs some luck and she will be winning plenty of races soon.”

Jockey Jade McNaught reunites with Defiantly, whom she steered to victory three times last campaign.

The six-year-old mare is perfectly drawn in gate two and carries the minimum 54kg today.

Candlelight Star will lump 62.5kg top weightin the race and steps up to a staying trip.

Proxy will look to continue his impressive campaign in the Narrogin Cup (1900m), having been placed at three of his last four starts and having won over 1800m at Ascot in a graduation race back in November.

Troy Turner will replace regular rider Emma Stent in the provincial featureand Delane was bullish on his chances.

“He always goes well, so I expect to see a positive result on Sunday,” Delane said.

“We have put a senior rider on for a change, Emma (Stent) has done nothing wrong but we just wanted to put a more experienced jockey on who knows the big races.

“Last start they went a bit slow and it’s not a horse that likes to sit and sprint so hopefully there is a bit of pace on.

“He always backs up well so if he comes through the run on Sunday, he will head towards the Albany Cup the following week.”

Albany’s eight-race card today kicks off at 1.42pm.