Three Albany horses claim victory for Roy Rogers and Steve Wolfe on nine-race Ascot program

Albany enjoyed a strong day at Ascot on Saturday, with leading trainers Steve Wolfe and Roy Rogers winning three of the nine races between them.

Rogers produced Island Charm to win race seven on the program, while Wolfe tasted success with new gallopers Beads and The Great One.

A perfect ride from top jockey Chris Parnham ensured promising four-year-old Island Charm justified her favouritism in the Morley Growers Market Handicap (1200m) to notch her third career win.

Parnham landed in a terrific spot midfield, one off the fence, before angling wide turning for home and then grabbing the lead inside the final 100m to salute by 0.8 lengths.

A post-race veterinary examination of the mare revealed an abrasion to her off hind hock.

Wolfe continued his hot form with a winning double to make it six winners across two days after four at Friday’s meeting in Albany.

Talented three-year-old Beads won the third event in dominant fashion, before former Victorian galloper The Great One produced a tough win in race six.

Beads was sent out a $1.90 favourite in the Glenroy Chaff Handicap (1000m) and went on to win by almost two lengths against the older horses.

Shaun McGruddy positioned Beads on the rail behind the leaders before angling out around their heels, and he showed a strong turn of foot to record a second win from seven career starts.

The Great One ran third in Albany first-up and stepped up in grade, but fought on strongly in the home straight to win the Salinger Handicap (1400m) at Ascot.

After sitting just off the speed, McGruddy urged The Great One to the lead in the final 150m and held off the fast-finishing favourite Speed Dream by a long head on the line.

Albany-owned sprinter God Has Chosen won his fifth race in eight career starts after going around at short odds for hoop Paul Harvey on Saturday.

The Playing God gelding was a brilliant winner of his first two starts for then-trainer Neil Lee, and continues to rise through the grades, producing a slashing win by 2.9 lengths in the Amelia Park Handicap (1500m) for current trainer Lindsey Smith.

Lacevinsky finished second for Wolfe in the opening event and the Rogers-trained Zetorio ran third to Beads.