Star Albany galloper Red Can Man drawn ideally for big test second-up in quality Group 3 Roma Cup

Star Albany galloper Red Can Man is primed for his crack at the Group 3 Roma Cup but trainer Steve Wolfe admits he will need to be at his best to beat a quality field of sprinters. A wonderful field of 16 runners has been assembled for the $200,000 PKF Roma Cup (1200m) on Saturday, as racing returns to Belmont Park. Red Can Man made a terrific return from a spell in the Group 3 Northam Stakes on May 1. It was won by outstanding sprinter Elite Street in the final stages, but he ran a bold second. Elite Street will meet Red Can Man better at the weights, with the Roma Cup a weight-for-age event, and Wolfe said the field was even better than what he contested first-up. “We were expecting that first-up run and were disappointed he couldn’t win it,” Wolfe said. “The field hasn’t dropped off — if anything this is probably stronger. “He went super first-up, and arguably the best sprinter in the State just grabbed him. He’ll take a lot of improvement out of that first run, but he’ll need to as we meet (Elite Street) worse at the weights.” Jockey Shaun McGruddy made a special trip to Albany to ride Red Can Man in his main workout on Tuesday morning. The pair will jump from barrier one and will carry 58.5kg. Only Flirtini and Amasenus will carry 56.5kg in the talented field that also contains Valour Road, Massimo, Indian Pacific, Cup Night and Kaptain Kaos. From barrier one, Wolfe said McGruddy had plenty of options. “He’ll be in the box seat, or lead or whatever he wants to do really,” Wolfe said. “He is almost the speed in the race, so if he can control things in front, hopefully he can hold Elite Street and the rest of them out. “I’m sure he will get a nice run. “It was great to have Shaun here and sit on him. You get a really good feel of where the horse is at, and he was delighted with him.” The five-year-old son of Gingerbread Man is being trained out of a paddock and his feet problems, which worsened after his Victorian campaign last year, have improved significantly. Red Can Man will headline a strong team of runners for Wolfe at Belmont on Saturday. Watch Me Dance, Ex Sport Man, and Ginger Green will also compete in Wolfe colours. The final meeting of the Great Southern season will be held on Sunday at Percy Spencer Racecourse. Albany will round out the 2021-22 season with an eight-race program.