Star galloper Red Can Man to carry the hopes of Albany in bid for Group 1 Railway Stakes success

Red Can Man will carry the hopes of many Emu Export drinkers around the country, especially a group of Albany owners who are daring to dream, in the $1 million Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. The star Albany galloper has a strong following here in WA given his name relates to such a popular beer. A large group of Red Can Man’s owners will sport “Bush Chook” shirts and red hats on course, and will have cans of Export in their hand to celebrate the horse if he wins his maiden Group 1 start. Saturday’s feature race will not just be significant for the owners and horse, but also for Albany trainer Steve Wolfe and long-time stable jockey Shaun McGruddy, who are both chasing their first Group 1 success. If the four-year-old gelding crosses the line first in the feature, he will be the first horse trained in Albany to win a Group 1 race and deliver McGruddy and Wolfe that long-awaited ultimate success. The roof will be lifted off the stands of the Ascot racecourse if Red Can Man, named by a bunch of owners who enjoy drinking Emu Export, is in sight of victory in the home straight. Red Can Man was listed as fourth favourite in the Railway at $8.50 with TABtouch today. “We have won a lot of big races but we have never won one as big as this, obviously, and it would be enormous,” Wolfe said. “Obviously at this stage in my career there’s probably not a lot of time left. “It would be good to win a Group 1 — you can’t put a price on winning, doesn’t matter what we do. “Money is essential but there’s nothing like winning a grand final or a good race. “We had the favourite in it one year (Mapperholic in 2003) and ran third so we are going to have probably the second or third favourite in it this year and we are bouncing off last Saturday so I’m pretty cruisy at the moment. “We will have a couple of stubbies and enjoy the ride, it’s just fortunate that we got a horse like this and we can all enjoy it — that’s what the aim of the game is.” Red Can Man, who has won seven of 16 career starts, drew barrier 10 and will carry 53.5kg. He ran second to last year’s Kingston Town Stakes winner Kay Cee in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes a fortnight ago. “You always have to worry about the cerise and white and you also have to worry about Kay Cee, she’s a good filly, we could have got a better draw but we’re still going to get a pretty trouble-free run at the weights and we meet her 4.5 kilos better so we will be there at the other end of the business and if we are good enough we will win,” he said. Wolfe said to share this experience with a group of close mates was something special. “If you don’t get butterflies well there’s something wrong with you, whatever sport you play or business you’re in,” Wolfe said. “When there’s big games at stake you have to be on the ball and hopefully I am for the next few days. “There’s no better feeling than to be involved in a Group 1 race with a bunch of owners like this, it’s wonderful, you just have to sort of pinch yourself and they’ve probably got to do the same.” Wolfe has been impressed by his star’s track work this week and was primed for his biggest test. Part-owner Ken Battison said he was enjoying the ride of a lifetime. “I’m getting nerves, it’s like a footy grand final for me,” Battison said. “I’m rapt and blessed to be involved in such a horse and words don’t say enough,” he said. “If it wins I might have a few days off work, as long as he doesn’t break down and he runs his best, that’s all you can ask of him. “I think he will do well, I really do I think he’s in for a ripper. “There’s some bloody characters in the ownership and it’s great.” The race starts at 4.40pm.