Guineas bound Red Can gives Wolfe belief

A fighting win in the Fairetha Stakes has rocketed Red Can Man in WA Guineas contention, strengthening Steve Wolfe’s hopes of a major victory during the TabTouch Masters Carnival that begins on Saturday week.

Rising Albany star Red Can Man produced a narrow win in Saturday’s listed $100,000 Fairetha Stakes (1400m), fighting hard in the final 200m to edge out Jericho Missile by 0.2 lengths.

As a result the Gingerbread Man sired three-year-old shortened into an $8 chance with TabTouch to take out the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racking WA Guineas (1600m) on November 23.

Red Can Man sits only behind $4.40 favourite Dig Deep, Jericho Missile and Superstorm in betting for the three-year-old feature on the opening day of the carnival, headlined by the $1m Railway Stakes.

Ridden by Peter Knuckey, Red Can Man jumped smartly and settled third before being put into the race as the field turned for home.

Wolfe believes there is still more improvement in his young star, who has won three of seven career starts.

“When that horse went to him, he dug very deep,” Wolfe said.

“He needed 1400m all the way along and the strong thing going forward is the 1600m.

“He is versatile and can come from behind or go forward because he jumps so quick.

“Another positive is he was three weeks between runs on Saturday.

“We’ll have a go (at the Guineas) providing everything goes to plan in the next week or so.”

Wolfe’s major dilemma in the lead-up to the three-year-old feature will be who takes the ride on Red Can Man.

Stable jockey Shaun McGruddy is set to return from injury but Knuckey has ridden the gelding at his past two starts in his place.

“That is going to be a very hard decision and one I won’t make lightly,” he said.

“I’ve brought the horse home, it’s been hot up there and he has been up there for a fair while.

“It is great for the owners to have a horse like him up and going and at this stage he’ll gallop next week in readiness for the race.”

Red Can Man broke his maiden status in August in Northam and then won over 1200m at Belmont in his next start.

The only unplaced run in his seven starts came when running fourth from five starters in three-year-old company last month after commencing awkwardly.