Star Albany galloper to Red Can Man to back up in Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot

Jockey Shaun McGruddy is confident Albany galloper Red Can Man can figure prominently in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Albany trainer Steve Wolfe surprised many by backing up Red Can Man off seven days in the Winterbottom following his fourth placing in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) last Saturday. McGruddy had initially accepted the ride on Condor Heroes before switching to his loyal Wolfe runner for another $1 million assignment. The leading senior rider is chasing his first Group 1 success and believes Red Can Man is capable of a big performance despite the drop back in distance. The star Albany galloper and Wolfe are also out to secure their maiden Group 1 victories and McGruddy said to achieve that in the Winterbottom would be significant. “I think he will be OK dropping back in distance, he has dropped back from a 1400m to a 1100m and won, it just depends on how much that run last week took out of him,” McGruddy said. “He is still on track and is good as gold, I think he can run in the top five. “I have never won a Winterbottom before I have ran third once, so to win it with Wolfey would be special. “He goes from a handicap to weight-for-age race so he gets more weight but I think he will acquit himself well. “I think he will be in the first four or five in running and hopefully let down strongly in the straight.” Red Can Man received a big boost on Tuesday at the Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw, as part-owner Noel Carter dew out barrier five. Meanwhile Albany will have a four-pronged attack in the $100,000 TABtouch Regional Championship Final: Road To Ascot (1200m) on Saturday. The first five horses across the line in the regional heat, won by What About Moses, in Albany earlier this month gained automatic entry. What About Moses from the Wolfe yard will jump from barrier nine with McGruddy aboard and carries 55.5kg. The Peter Western-trained Magic Opus finished third in the corresponding event last year at Ascot and will start from gate 10. Read The Riot Act trained by Roy Rogers, Long Knife Brother from the Des Attwell stable and Mark Westthorp’s Little Punga will also fly the flag for the Great Southern in the final. Albany’s Liam O’Loughlin will start his talented six-year-old Wild Fusion in another of the day’s features, the $100,000 TABtouch Westspeed Platinum Series Final (1400m). Wild Fusion was superb winning first-up over 1400m on November 14 and he will carry 58kg with Chris Parnham engaged from barrier eight in the final. Wolfe has Mood Goddess entered in the race and McGruddy takes the ride from gate nine.