Hear Me Sing and Let’sdeal outside chances in WATC Derby for veteran Albany trainer Steve Wolfe

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe says both Hear Me Sing and Let’sdeal deserve their place in the $400,000 Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The two young Albany gallopers are among a hot field of 13 runners in the Group 2, three-year-old feature race. Star gelding Trix Of The Trade, who has won seven of his 10 career starts, and recent Melvista Stakes winner Alaskan God are expected to dominate the race but Wolfe has a two-pronged attack in his bid to win the race for the first time. Hear Me Sing is the more fancied of the two runners in the betting market, listed as an $18 chance with TABtouch while Let’sdeal is quoted at $81. However, the veteran Albany trainer said with the value of the race, they would be mad not to have a crack. “It’s a pretty hard race to win,” Wolfe said. “I’m not overly confident with either of them but you have to have a shy at the stumps in these big races. “The one of (Daniel) Morton’s is hard to beat but Trix Of The Trade is the one in my opinion at set weights. “Hopefully, both of mine can run well and get a bit of prizemoney.” Hear Me Sing has won twice in 15 career starts, has run three minor placings behind Trix Of The Trade and was fourth to Alaskan God in the listed Melvista over 2200m. The I’m All The Talk gelding is drawn badly in barrier 11 and despite the initial engagement of Paul Harvey, senior hoop Peter Knuckey will be aboard on Saturday. “Hear Me Sing has been racing really well without getting over the top of the better ones,” Wolfe said. “He’s been so honest, placed in three listed races on the way through and if you look at this race if he can be placed again it enhances the value from a broodmare side of it.” Let’sdeal broke his maiden status in Northam and was a slashing Mt Barker winner in January before running third in the listed Challenge Stakes (1500m) behind Trix Of The Trade and Hear Me Sing. The Dundeel gelding was 13th in the Melvista but has drawn well in gate two for rider Andrew Castle. “Let’sdeal has been racing well and hasn’t finished far off them,” Wolfe said. “He’s probably one preparation away from being a good horse but these races are so rare in WA it would be silly not to go in it.” Alaskan God is the current favourite at $2.30 for trainer Daniel Morton while the Colin Webster-prepared Trix Of The Trade is also solid in the market at $3.