Smart 2YO ready to fire in Karrakatta Plate

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe hopes to go one better in Saturday’s Group 2 $500,000 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) when outsider Arrum Boy contests the two-year-old feature race at Ascot.

Arrum Boy gained a start in the final Karrakatta Plate field after two second placings at his only two career starts, firstly in midweek company in February before a second to promising type Galveston Bay in Saturday grade on March 11.

Top senior jockey Peter Hall will ride Arrum Boy, who drew barrier 10 and will carry 56.5kg in the field of 16.

Wolfe came close to winning the Karrakatta Plate in 2013 with talented galloper Trichologist, who ran second to the Jon Sadler-trained Ms Funovits.

Ms Funovits later died on her way to gates in the Group 3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes in 2013, where Trichologist ran second.

Trichologist was a winner of more than $200,000 in stake money from only 13 starts but was disqualified from racing after bleeding for a second time during racing in January, 2015.

Wolfe believes his talented young galloper is capable of giving this feature race a shake despite opening a $31 chance with Tabtouch when markets were put up this week. “It would have been nicer to be drawn a bit closer,” he said.

“But there is plenty of speed inside and outside and hopefully we land in the middle.

“His last run was better than what it looked — he couldn’t get into the race. We are pretty happy with where he is, we elected to keep him fresh and not overtax him and, all things being equal, he should be there at the end.”

The Demerit gelding will tackle red-hot favourite Seannie, who is a $2.75 favourite in the race while Wolfe also rates fellow Simon Miller-trained youngster Achernar Star as a strong winning chance.

Miss Somebody and War Ksar will also start for Wolfe on Saturday.