Great Southern trainer Steve Wolfe to bring strong armada, headed by Currimundi in Bunbury Cup

Great Southern trainer Steve Wolfe will bring a strong armada up to Bunbury on Saturday, headed by Currimundi in the Listed $150,000 Swan Draught Bunbury Cup (2000m). Currimundi caught the eye last start in the Detonator Stakes (1800m) at Ascot, where he was held up noticeably on straightening before running home purposefully late when clear. “The barrier is in his favour and the trip suits, but he’s not suited by the weights,” Wolfe said. Currimundi, who has a rating of 85, shares the minimum riding weight of 54kg with horses like 90-rated No Apology. However, crucially, he will receive 8kg respite on horses like 110-rated Marocchino and 106-rated Perth Cup-champion Casino Seventeen. Currimundi, named for a coastal suburb in Queensland, has been specked from $8 into $6.50 with TABtouch. Both Marocchino and Casino Seventeen will need to set a weight carrying record to succeed, with 60.5kg by Paris Prince in 1977 the heaviest impost lugged to victory in the 130-year history of the race. Wolfe’s strong hand extends to the co-feature, the Listed $150,000 TABtouch Bunbury Stakes (1400m) with River Rubicon. River Rubicon ($9) beat many of Saturday’s adversaries last start in the Pinjarra Classic (1300m) when first-up. Although going off an $18 outsider on that occasion, he produced a scintillating burst from near last on the turn to get up in the final strides from Searchin’ Rocs. “Last start was a backmarker’s track; I’m not sure he’s as well suited this time. He has come forward since that, though,” Wolfe said. Wolfe also prepares the shortest priced favourite of the day with Insyde Success ($2.40) in the second race, a horse he has a high valuation of. “He beat an ordinary field last start, but he is a really nice horse,” Wolfe said. Wolfe’s final runner for the day will be in the last event on the program, Catch These Hands. After a lacklustre campaign last preparation, he rekindled old hope when second to Morgs Freeman at Albany on February 29. Despite being a $14 shot, Wolfe predicts a forward effort. “He should’ve won last start and he’s going to be better second-up. He should go well.”