Our Buddy Boy chases fourth win of the season

Talented middle-distance galloper Our Buddy Boy will chase a fourth win in the Great Southern this season when he lumps 61kg in today’s GWN7 Handicap (1450m) at Percy Spencer Racecourse.

Four horses are tied at the top of the Great Southern Horse of the Year standings with Our Buddy Boy among that group heading into the final four meetings of the season.

The Rebecca Wallrodt-trained galloper has scored three wins here this season but will need to carry a big weight in the field of 13 in his attempt at another win.

Top jockey Mitchell Pateman will be aboard the six-year-old, who drops back to 1450m, a distance he has won at twice in his career, and they jump from barrier eight.

In a commanding front-running display, Our Buddy Boy and Glenn Smith won over 1500m two starts back in Albany before running second to Prix D’Excellence over 1500m last start for Pateman.

The Balmont gelding won second-up over 1230m and then downed Babble over 1450m and also has three other minor placings in an ultra-consistent campaign.

Wallrodt is also hopeful of improvement from her other runner today, Roman Gift, who ran fourth on debut at Mt Barker last month.

Also with three wins in the Great Southern this season are Steve Wolfe-trained duo Gauged and Mongolian Warlord and Prentice from the Peter and Matt Giadresco yard.

Gauged will also have a chance to make it four wins this afternoon when the rising five-year-old contests the Nexus Life Handicap (1907m). A dominant last-start winner on Albany Cup day, Gauged will again been ridden by hoop Peter Knuckey and will carry 56kg from gate one.

Powercraft, who ran fourth in the Albany Cup, appears one of the main dangers in the race.

Albany trainer Roy Rogers will look to get his day off to a winning start with smart two-year-old Ionyx, who looks perfectly placed in the USG Boral Maiden (1500m).

CAMERON NEWBOLD’S ALBANY SELECTIONS

Race 1: Ionyx

Race 2: Hostwin Pegasus

Race 3: Red Moon

Race 4: Waychinicup

Race 5: Powercraft

Race 6: Tranquilla Sunrise

Race 7: Cleo’s Afterparty

Race 8: Lord Kronos

Best Bet: Ionyx

Value: Waychinicup