Wolfe and Kirby a winning combination

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe and senior rider Brodie Kirby extended their lead in the respective Great Southern premierships after yet another treble at Percy Spencer Racecourse on Friday. On the transferred seven-race card, originally set down for Mt Barker, Wolfe only saddled up runners in four races but returned three winners. Classic Rogue backed up his impressive debut run with a slashing victory in the TABtouch Better Your Bet Maiden (1240m). After drifting in betting, Classic Rouge came from sixth on the turn, found a gap in the field, and kicked clear to win by 1.6 lengths over Miss Pins. Wolfe and Kirby made it a race-to-race double when Cleo’s Afterparty grabbed Take Me Home Honey in the last 50m to win the Amazing South Coast Handicap (1900m). Mr Pago then made it three for the Wolfe/Kirby combination, showing his class in the Harvey Beef Handicap (1900m), to win easily from Vital Boom and Top Agent after running fifth in the Albany Cup last start. Universal Star won impressively in the Southern Haulage Industries Maiden (1100m) at her third start for trainer Paul Hunter. Apprentice Chris Graham had the four-year-old mare in front after jumping and they skipped clear in the home straight to win by 2.5 lengths. Small-scale trainer Mark Westthorp continues his impressive strike rate this season after Little Punga held on narrowly over Cold As Cold to win the Mt Barker Co-Operative Handicap (1240m). Apprentice Kristy Bennett led throughout on Little Punga and fought off a strong dive from Cold As Cold on the line to win by a nose. City Ransom led all the way to win race seven, while Luke’s Gold won the last race for Roy Rogers and Chris Nicoll.