Steve Wolfe on the hunt for back-to-back Group 2 WA Guineas victories on opening day of masters carnival

Four Albany gallopers will fly the local flag in Ascot feature races on the opening day of the masters carnival on Saturday. Leading Albany trainers Steve Wolfe and Roy Rogers will form a two-pronged attack in the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing WA Guineas (1600m) with Ex Sport Man and Hoi An. Wolfe will also saddle up four-year-olds Watch Me Dance and The Spruiker in the listed $100,000 Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m). Ex Sport Man was crowned the champion two-year-old in the State last season, and despite two unplaced runs back from a spell, Wolfe is confident his galloper can play a part in the finish. Wolfe will be searching for back-to-back wins in the WA Guineas after winning the race last year with Watch Me Dance. “It is a nice feeling to have the chance to win back-to-back Guineas,” he said. “We have had a few obstacles with him (Ex Sport Man) leading up to this but he’s back on equal weights and got a good barrier so he will be competitive. “The biggest plus is the weight. Last start the favourite for this weekend (It’sarayday) had 54kg and we had 59kg, so we get a 2.5kg weight swing and meet them on level weights, and I think that will be nearly enough to see him win. “He is definitely a live chance. He was the best two-year-old and he is as fit as I can get him. “We have had a lot of obstacles but we have him as close as he can be for this assignment and if he wins it will be even more meritorious.” Ex Sport Man will be ridden by Troy Turner from barrier five with 56.5kg and was a $26 chance on TABtouch yesterday. Rogers will have his first runner in the three-year-old feature with Hoi An and is expecting a forward showing. Hoi An claimed feature races as a two-year-old but has been unplaced since returning this time in work. However, Rogers believes her fifth in the Group 3 Champion Fillies last week will help her cause. “To have my first runner in the Guineas is very exciting,” he said. “She has got the ability and we need the right run but I think she can play a part in the finish. “I think Buzzoom and It’sa rayday are the one to beat. “She has drawn a good gate for the first time in her career and I expect her to continue improving. “We gave her a hard run last start, she needed a hard hit-out and to still run fifth was a good showing. “In a small field she should get a soft run behind the pace and will have every chance.” Hoi An will carry 54.5kg and has drawn ideally as well in barrier three with Shaun O’Donnell in the saddle and is a $34 chance. Watch Me Dance will carry 56.5kg from barrier three with Turner aboard in the Carbine Club of WA Stakes while The Spruiker has Peter Knuckey aboard from barrier eight with 55kg. “The Spruiker is a winner and Watch Me Dance is class,” Wolfe said. “They are both in the right race and can both go very close.”