Rejuvenated sprinter Beau Zoom leads strong team for Rebecca Bayliss in Albany’s first running of Bluff Knoll

Albany trainer Rebecca Bayliss is hoping to have a strong day out on her home turf on Sunday, with her team headlined by Bluff Knoll runner Beau Zoom. Beau Zoom was the final horse locked in for Albany’s lucrative slot race, taking the spot for Peters Investments in the field of 13. Bayliss is enjoying a terrific season in the Great Southern with nine winners already and hopes to add to that in front of the thousands that are expected to flock to Percy Spencer Racecourse for the inaugural Bluff Knoll. The set-weights-and-penalties race run over 1099m, the height of Bluff Knoll in the nearby Stirling Range National Park, has attracted a superb field. Oscar’s Fortune holds favouritism for trainer Dion Luciani and slot owners Two Fillies Stud in the $357,060 Wellington & Reeves Bluff Knoll. Albany star Red Can Man ($5) is on the second line of betting with TABtouch while classy sprinters Laced Up Heels ($7) and Snowdome ($8.50) are also in single figures. The rejuvenated Beau Zoom, formerly with Neville Parnham, has won twice this campaign and finished second behind Supersession in the Fitzpatrick Plate and Mt Barker Sprint. Bayliss said the seven-year-old was thriving in his new environment and deserves a crack at this race for slot owner Bob Peters. “It a privilege to be a part of it, both the race and Mr Peters to ask us to use our horse,” she said. “When he asked we thought ‘why not have a crack?’. “Thinking about it and what he’s done down here, he’s probably one of the best sprinters racing around here so he deserves to have a crack. “He had a bit of a gallop on Wednesday and a swim (Friday). “I think they will go flat out in front but he’s drawn a good gate so hopefully we can slot in somewhere midfield and see what happens.” Beau Zoom is listed as a $61 chance in the race and will jump from barrier five with talented apprentice Luke Campbell aboard. Campbell has had good success with the stable previously, riding veteran Morton’s Fork to victory in the Jericho Cup qualifier held in Albany. The $40,000 Pelicans’ Ladies Bracelet (1600m) will also be run on the eight-race card with Bayliss holding one of the key chances. Star In Time is one of the fancies in the race at $4.80, to be ridden by top city hoop Chris Parnham. The six-year-old mare has won over 1500m in Albany this campaign and has been placed on three other occasions in five starts since November. “Star In Time is going super and hasn’t put a foot wrong this time in,” Bayliss said. “She has drawn a better gate and should go well.” Chris Parnham will also be aboard Hot Chatter for Bayliss in the Wellington & Reeves Commercial Handicap (1000m) on Sunday. The four-year-old was an Albany winner in November and has run third at her last two starts and has gate six and 59kg to contend with but Bayliss labelled her a “pretty strong chance”.