Pinnacles features to come for resuming Albany veteran Red Can Man, Steve Wolfe with big carnival nominations

Star Albany galloper Red Can Man made an impressive return at Monday’s Lark Hill barrier trials, in preparation to launch his latest assault on Group 1 feature races. The Steve Wolfe-trained Red Can Man is nominated for two major races in the upcoming Pinnacles series at Ascot. A winner of more than $1.5 million in prizemoney and bonuses, Red Can Man has not been seen since running 13th in the Group 3 Hyperion Sprint in June. The eight-year-old gelding was warmed up by jockey Shaun McGruddy in the home straight and lengthened quickly to finish second in the 950m barrier trial. Western Empire won the trial by 0.6 lengths but Red Can Man worked home well as the Wolfe stable progress towards a racing return. Red Can Man is nominated for the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 30 and the $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m) on December 14. He is a three-time listed winner also claimed the 2021 Sir John Monash Stakes in Melbourne but is yet to be placed at Group 1 level and has three minor placings in four Group 2 starts. Red Can Man is among a big contingent of Wolfe horse in the nominations for the Pinnacles announced earlier this month. Brave Spirit, Currimundi and River Rubicon are among 108 nominations for the $1.5 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 23. Youngsters Daytona Pete and Gaspardo are in line to contest the $500,000 Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 23 for Wolfe. Red Can Man is joined by stablemate and rising sprinter Rope Them In as part of the Winterbottom Stakes nominations. Wolfe has Brave Spirit, Currimundi, Gaspardo, Odinaka and River Rubicon nominated in the $1.5 million Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) on December 7. Other Wolfe runners nominated for The Gold Rush are Brave Spirit, Daytona Pete and Rope Them In. Fellow Albany trainer Paul Hunter took a big team to the trials and emerged with two winners. Promising type Playing Rio made a strong return over 950m, holding out Noteworthy while four-year-old Awesome Rock gelding Brandberg was ultra impressive when winning over the same distance. Albany trainer Rebecca Bayliss had G’day Bloke and Frantic War also trial, the latter finished second by one length to Don’t Trust Judas.