Trainer puzzled by weight
Local trainer Steve Wolfe has questioned the Racing and Wagering WA ratings and handicapping system after classy four-year-old Mr Utopia was lumped with 60.5kg in Sunday’s $90,000 XXXX-Gold Albany Cup (2100m).
Mr Utopia was an impressive winner of the listed $100,000 York Stakes (1600m) last start and lost the listed $100,000 Grandstand Cup on protest, despite crossing the line first.
Wolfe voiced his concern about Mr Utopia getting lumped with the top weight after Lords Ransom was given 59kg in the 2013 Albany Cup which was worth $75,000.
Lords Ransom, trained by Grant Williams, has won a Perth Cup, two Bunbury and Pinjarra cups and earned more than $860,000 in stake money compared to Mr Utopia’s stake earnings of $255,159 from 16 starts, eight of which have been victories.
“He has won two three-year-old races, one Saturday class race and a supposed listed race,” Wolfe said.
“And he has never run further than 1800m, I just can’t justify the weight.
“Lords Ransom gets 59kg last year and has won $800,000 and the race is worth $15,000 less … it’s a joke.”
Wolfe said the weight was a real concern heading into the region’s richest staying race.
“I don’t think he can win with that weight,” he said.
“It’s a big weight, it’s virtually nearly impossible, he has got a million things against him.
“If I had an easy option I would scratch him but it’s the local cup and there are no other races for him.”
Regular hoop Shaun McGruddy will ride the Elusive Quality gelding from barrier seven.
Stompin, who finished fifth in the last year’s cup, will start with 54kg on his back for Wolfe with Jason Whiting to take the mount.
Wolfe will be chasing his fourth Albany Cup crown after previous success with Jobeth (2012), Impact Rating (2008) and Try A Tune (2007).
Metropolitan trainer Adam Durrant will be aiming for his fifth Albany Cup crown.
Durrant won the cup last year with quality stayer Hibernian and that was his fourth success in the event in five years following victories with Double Barrel (2011) and Great Destiny (2009 and 2010).
This year Durrant will have a two-pronged attack with Summah’s Touch, who finished third in the recent Bunbury Cup, and Peck who was second in the Narrogin Cup.
Fellow local trainer Garry Delane is happy with Insurgency heading into the race but said Wolfe had the upper hand.
“Wolfey’s stable has the standout performers in both major races,” he said. “I expect to be chasing them both home.”
In 2011, Insurgency won the Mt Barker and Narrogin cups and finished fourth in this year’s Narrogin Cup.
