Miss Stonebridge one of two local chances in the $20,000 Wellington and Reeves Albany Pacing Cup

Albany trainer Adrian Shanks will start Miss Stonebridge as one of two local chances in the $20,000 Wellington and Reeves Albany Pacing Cup (2690m) at Harold Reid Paceway on Saturday night. The Albany Harness Racing Club’s biggest meeting of the year will have Miss Stonebridge and Adda Tarantella flying the local flag against a handful of visiting pacers. After 11 initial nominations were received for the feature race, a final field of eight will face the starter headlined by the Barry Howlett-trained Millwood Gucci. Kiwi pacer Culpeki claimed last year’s cup in convincing fashion for Howlett and driver Emily Sulvajko. Shanks will be chasing his first Albany Pacing Cup with the consistent Miss Stonebridge who ran fourth in the same race last year. Trent Wheeler will take the reins of Miss Stonebridge in the feature race. “She always tries hard and is a very honest horse,” he said. “I’m sure she can run in the money. It depends if they go hard in front, if they go slow and walk it makes it hard for the ones in the back of the field to sprint over the top. “We will be looking to sit just behind the leaders and sprint home over them. “It’s the biggest race down here in Albany and every local trainer strives to win it.” Fellow Albany trainer Charlie Draper has Adda Tarantella representing his stable in the big race, after winning at big odds in Albany last week. Howlett will be looking for back-to-back cups when he prepares likely favourite Millwood Gucci and All The Bells for the feature race. Millwood Gucci was racing against some of the State’s best mares last season and also has a recent metro placing behind Group 1 Mares Classic runner-up Somebeachparty. Meanwhile, Hayden Reeves will have a three-pronged attack in the race with Bountiful Reactor, Thejewelinhereye and Thomson Bay. The other runner to gain a start is Highview Sadler.