Treble shoots Wolfe well clear

Astute Albany trainer Steve Wolfe has continued his red-hot form, stitching up yet another Great Southern Trainers’ Premiership after a winning treble at last Thursday’s meeting at Percy Spencer Racecourse.

Wolfe has trained 11 winners this month, which includes two Saturday metropolitan victories with War Ksar and One Short, while also claiming the Fitzpatrick Plate in Albany on Easter Sunday with My Greek Boy.

After enjoying four winners at the Albany Cup meeting, Wolfe all but secured the 2016-17 Great Southern Trainers’ Premiership with a treble last week after maiden galloper Mongolian Warlord, ex-Victorian Mr Pago and developing stayer Gauged all triumphed. The result lifted Wolfe to 23 wins in the Great Southern this season, eight ahead of his nearest rival Roy Rogers ahead of the final local meeting this Thursday.

Mongolian Warlord broke his maiden status at just his second lifetime start, jockey Shaun McGruddy easing the three-year-old off the heels of another runner in the home straight before shooting clear to win the Tabtouch Check In To ARC Maiden (1100m) by a length.

“He’ll make a fair horse, probably a midweek type,” Wolfe said.

“He will have another run and then maybe look at the Magic Millions race in Kalgoorlie or the paddock.

“Without a trial first-up he’s just kept improving and improving and did a good job to win in the end.”

Mr Pago, having his third start in WA after formerly being trained by Peter Gelagotis in Victoria, sat just off the speed for hoop Peter Hall before blasting home to win the Tabtouch — Betting Made Easy Handicap (1512m) by ¾ of a length over Our Buddy Boy. “We haven’t bought a lot of tried horses lately, it used to be our strength,” Wolfe said.

“He’ll step up to Saturday grade over 1800m this week but we are pretty bullish about him.”

The third leg of the treble came with Gauged, ridden by Hall, who gobbled up long-shot and former stablemate Aground in the last stride to win the Thank You Albany 10th Light Horse Troop Handicap (1612m) by a head.

Gauged ran fifth in the WATC Derby last year but it was the four-year-old’s second career win from 16 starts.

“His runs this time in have all been excellent,” Wolfe said.

“He’ll go to town now and hopefully we’ll see his best from now on.

“He’s always shown us plenty and ran fifth in the derby.”