Wolfe pack returns with three wins

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe continued his red-hot streak in the Great Southern after training a winning treble at the Grapes and Gallops meeting at Frost Park on Sunday afternoon.

After landing a treble in Albany on Boxing Day and then saddling up another winner in Albany on January 9, Wolfe has now trained seven winners in the past three Great Southern meetings.

He marked a successful return to the Mt Barker Turf Club with progressive gelding Countercat winning a thrilling photo finish to the Boyacup Angus Stud Handicap (1300m) by a short half-head over Queen Of Tease.

Under vigorous riding from jockey Shaun O'Donnell, the five-year-old responded late to score victory at his third run back this campaign, which Wolfe suggests could be a successful one.

"He's ready to go to the next level," Wolfe said.

"We will look at a midweek race in town now with him, he can take the next step.

"It was a good win over 1300m and I think he can get 1600m and maybe even further."

Smart five-year-old Conjob then made a sizzling return in the Shamrock Suffolk Stud Handicap (1300m), despite being trapped three wide in running.

Jumping a $3.40 chance for Albany hoop Natasha Faithfull, the Balmont gelding sat just off the speed, was caught wide on the home corner but was able to produce a devastating finish to win by 1¾ lengths at the line.

"He is a very good horse who has had a few issues," Wolfe said.

"He has a real sharp turn of foot and toughed it out yesterday.

"If he can hold up, he might be a nice (Mungrup) sprint horse next year."

The final leg of the Wolfe treble came in the Le Grande Motel Handicap (1850m) when O'Donnell guided $3.60 favourite Bettsie back to the inside rail in the final 200m to charge home and beat Fairly Hot by half a length.

The five-year-old mare has won two of her past five starts and been placed in two others.

"Bettsie has been going really well and that was a dominant win," Wolfe said.

"She has been a slow maturing horse, but has always shown plenty, but has just been hot.

"She will progress to at least a midweek horse."

Wolfe will spell star galloper Mr Utopia after his ninth placing in the Mungrup Stud Sprint.