Trio of Albany trainers will look to end local drought in this weekend’s $100,000 Albany Cup

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe will look to end a nine-year local drought when he saddles up last-start winner So Schmick in Sunday’s $100,000 Wellington & Reeves Albany Cup (2100m) at Percy Spencer Racecourse. The feature race has been dominated by invaders in the past 10 years, with Wolfe the last local trainer to taste success in the race. The Albany Cup has moved back to its traditional Easter Sunday timeslot this season. Wolfe won the race in 2012 with Jobeth and will saddle up one of four local chances in the field of 10. So Schmick was an impressive last-start winner in Albany over 1920m and rises sharply in grade as Wolfe searches to end the visitors’ reign. The five-year-old gelding has been in Wolfe’s stable for only a few months and will jump from barrier two with 54kg on his back. However the pair’s chances were dealt a blow with jockey Shaun McGruddy injuring his back after a fall at trackwork in Perth on Wednesday and it’s unclear whether he can fulfil his rides. Roy Rogers will have a two-pronged attack with Classic Jack and last start winner Brutus Maximus while Paul Hunter will saddle up Scream In Blue. Six of the past 12 Albany Cup winners have been trained by Adam Durrant who has Touch Of Silver engaged, after winning last year with Mackenzie Brooke. Country cups king Peter Hall will chase a fourth win in the race as he jumps aboard the Durrant-trained top weight. Champion jockey William Pike will make the trip down and ride the Lou Luciani-trained Marocchino. Also in the field is 2018 Albany Cup winner Push To Pass from the Ashley Maley stable while 2019 runner-up He’s A Parker is entered along with Losing Ticket, runner-up in this year’s Mt Barker Cup.