Red Can Man’s successful trial buoys leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe ahead of 2022 Pinnacles

Leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe is confident Red Can Man can feature prominently in the 2022 Pinnacles after a successful trial in Albany on Friday.

Red Can Man tuned up for his racing return with a sizzling barrier trial in Albany, smashing his rivals by more than eight lengths.

Ridden by Natasha Faithfull, the star galloper clocked 1min. 01.25sec. over 1000m and was asked for little effort in the home straight.

The stable star will now tackle the Group 3 $150,000 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday followed by the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and Gold Rush (1400m) as part of The Pinnacles that run from November 12 to December 10.

The six-year-old Gelding is set to race in the $1.5 million Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 22 and the $1.5m Group 3 The Gold Rush (1400m) on December 10.

Wolfe recently sent Red Can Man across to Victoria where he finished fourth in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality and then ran eighth in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

“He trialled well — it’s a different grade of race that he’s going in but he was OK and he couldn’t have trialled much better,” Wolfe said.

“The 1100m (Colonel Reeves Stakes) might be a bit short for him on Saturday but I reckon he’s been in as good of order as he’s been in.

“Hopefully come Winterbottom (1200m) day, that’s when he’ll start to get serious as well as for the Gold Rush but he’s in wonderful order.

“He was in good order in Melbourne but we just didn’t get the breaks but that happens in all walks of life, so we’ll take that on the chin and move forward.

“Hopefully we can get to Saturday and run a good race and then a fortnight after that, keep Elite Street busy again I suppose.”

Red Can Man drew barrier six for his racing return and will carry 57.5kg with Shaun McGruddy to ride.

They will contest a high-quality Colonel Reeves Stakes that features the likes of Elite Street, Indian Pacific, Nerodio, Miss Conteki and Laverrod.

This’ll Testya, trained by former Albany jockey Mitchell Pateman, will also contest the Colonel Reeves Stakes.

The speedy seven-year-old has a large group of Albany owners and has finished second in the listed Crawford Stakes and then most recently was runner-up to Miss Conteki in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes.

Hoop Lucy Warwick is engaged to ride This’ll Testya who will carry 54.5kg and jump from barrier 12 in the field of 15.

Wolfe also has talented youngster Ex Sport Girl entered in the $300,000 WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Ex Sport Girl was an impressive maiden winner in Albany at her sixth career start last Friday and will take a big jump in class to tackle some of the best three-year-old fillies in the State.

Jockey Shaun McGruddy will be aboard the A Lot filly who has drawn barrier nine for the big assignment.

They will tackle a strong field that includes Burgess Queen Stakes winner Laced Up Heels, Miss Drakova, Penny On The Queen and Sesswa.

It will be a busy afternoon for Wolfe with The Great One also set to run as Ascot in a ratings handicap over 1600m.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Albany Racing Club will hold their first official meeting of the season.

Albany’s Percy Spencer Racecourse hosted the postponed Mt Barker Turf Club meeting last Friday and the second fixture in the Great Southern will be run on Sunday featuring seven races.

The meeting will be highlighted by the $40,000 regional championship heat over 1230m, which attracted eight nominations.

Wild Fusion has been scratched with Acefire from the Roy Rogers stable the likely top weight with 59kg.

Rogers also has Mr Causeway and Sneaky Fox entered while Kohli who was ultra-impressive for his new stable is also set to start.

Top jockey Chris Parnham will make the trip to Albany where he rides Mr Causeway in the feature race and also takes a number of mounts for South West trainer Michael Lane.