Kenney returns to happy hunting ground

Trainer Paige Kenney will return to Albany for the first time since 2015, when talented galloper Scottish Trader contests this afternoon’s BP Roadhouse Handicap (1230m) at the transferred Great Southern meeting.

Albany Racing Club will host today’s nine-race card after track issues forced the meeting to be transferred from Mt Barker Turf Club, where races were called off last Thursday after one event.

Kenney last started a horse in Albany on December 10, 2015, but she returns to a happy hunting ground with a sole runner today.

Scottish Trader resumed in terrific fashion at York last month, scoring a narrow win from Snow Lord over 1100m, to improve her record to six wins from 22 starts.

The Trade Fair mare boasts an outstanding second-up record of two wins and two minor placings from four attempts ahead of today’s assignment.

The six-year-old mare rises 1.5kg from her first-up win and is drawn in gate seven, with Takahide Ikenushi aboard.

Sixpence Spent, which finished fourth at Bunbury last start, will lump 60.5kg in the race for the Peter and Matt Giadresco stable.

The Steve Wolfe-trained Chasing Chaos is the top weight in the race with 62kg on his back for hoop Peter Hall, while Wolfe also has in-form runner Jester Rock engaged. Prince Friar has been a model of consistency for Paul Hunter recently but will need to overcome a wide draw to score his sixth win at Percy Spencer Racecourse.

After running a huge race at big odds last start, Force Element has barrier one with emerging apprentice Tayla Stone in the saddle.

The first of nine races starts at 1.27pm today.

Meanwhile, WA Guineas runner Three Secrets resumes from a spell for Wolfe at Ascot on Saturday in the Seacorp Handicap (1100m).

Three Secrets was spelled after running sixth to Perfect Jewel in the Group 2 race in November and tackles fellow local galloper Tango Ora, who ran second to How To Fly over 1000m at Ascot last start for trainer Roy Rogers.

Recent Fitzpatrick Plate winner Long Knife will contest Saturday’s $70,000 Mumm Champagne Sprint (1000m) at Ascot with local rider Mitchell Pateman aboard.

CAMERON NEWBOLD’S ALBANY SELECTIONS

Race 1: Vital Boom, Percentage Play, Coolgardie Al, Templar’s Cross

Race 2: Kostyazilch, Dr Sykes, Powercraft, Sassenach

Race 3: Prentice, Gauged, Saxapak, Mr Pago

Race 4: Planet Flower, Desert Thorn, Disny, Jester Dini

Race 5: Hostwin Pegasus, Naturaliste, Big Caroline, Bindaree Lady

Race 6: Levonas, Prix D’Excellence, Jester Ferrari, Everasready

Race 7: Ripped By Pappy, Mongolian Warlord, Frankly Scarlett, Foxy Princess

Race 8: Scottish Trader, Prince Friar, Jester Rock, Kronstadt

Race 9: Poldark’s Girl, Parisienne Lady, Diraja Jewel, Waychinicup

Best Bet: Scottish Trader

Value: Planet Flower, Hostwin Pegasus, Ripped By Pappy

Place: Kronstadt