Senso may step up for Cup

Veteran galloper Senso will be aimed at the $100,000 Albany Cup in February after his gutsy middle-distance win for Alan McNamara Jr at Percy Spencer Racecourse on Friday.

Senso produced a fighting performance under 58kg for jockey Lisa Staples in the Hygain Sporthouse Handicap (1450m) last week and will now head towards the region’s major staying race.

Despite only racing beyond 2000m on four occasions, Senso is well-suited to a race like the Albany Cup according to McNamara.

“I have always thought he was a stayer, I was only putting him in sprint races last season because he was a tired horse,” McNamara said.

“First-up he missed the kick and then sat three wide with no luck, last start wasn’t run his way so I have been happy with how the horse is going.

“There is no races to suit him down here leading up into the Albany Cup so we have to travel.

“I’m taking him to Perth then Pinjarra, if he wins a couple up there we won’t bring it back to the Albany Cup because the owners will want it trained in Perth.

“If he doesn’t go well or travel well then we will continue to press on to the Albany Cup.”

The seven-year-old was formerly trained by Paul Jordan and finished second in the listed Belmont Classic (2200m) for three-year-old horses back in 2016.

Senso has run three placings for the McNamara stable and settled fifth in running before Staples went back to the cutaway in the home straight and held off a late surge from Notta Mocha to win by 0.2 lengths.

“He has working well enough to suggest he could win,’ he said.

“He’s got plenty of ability and has won almost half a million dollars so I know I have a decent horse.”

Leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe notched a winning treble on the Friday card.

Four-year-old mare Regal Rebelle broke her maiden status at her fourth start after stable jockey Natasha Faithfull weaved her way through the pack from second last on the turn to grab Dolly’s Dream on the line in the Hygain Micrspeed Handicap (1230m).

“She’s always shown plenty of ability, the further she gets the better she will run,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe brought up a race-to-race double when Starorio registered her second career win, under jockey Peter Knuckey in the Hygain Release Handicap (1450m).

“We will try and get the horse out over 1800-2000m and I expect this mare to be winning a few more decent races,” he said.

A clever frontrunning ride from Willie White guided War Jeune to victory in the Hygain Feeding Champions Handicap (1230m) ahead of stablemate and favourite Cold As Cold later in the day.