There were no regrets about Straight Albert missing the Villiers Stakes after the gelding’s impressive win in a support race on Saturday’s Warwick Farm program.
Trainer Guy Walter said although the four-year-old would have been competitive in the Group Two feature, it would have been a tough race to win.
Straight Albert was third emergency for the Villiers but ran instead in the Jim Beam Benchmark 80 (1600m) - Photo by Steve Hart
Straight Albert was third emergency for the Villiers but ran instead in the Jim Beam Benchmark 80 (1600m).
He was sent out at $4.20 and fought out the latter part of the race with Irish Jig ($8), gaining the ascendancy by three-quarters of a length with the pair well clear of third placegetter Al’s Gold ($14) who was another three lengths away.
“He was in well at the weights but against the better-class horses in the Villiers at 1600 metres around Warwick Farm, it would have been hard,” Walter said.
“I’m fortunate to get him. He is a lovely horse and his future is over further.”
Walter, who has only had Straight Albert for his current preparation since he was transferred from Michael Dobie, has plans to step him up in distance over the next few weeks.
“The plan is to start him in the Tatt’s Cup at Warwick Farm and then the Gosford Cup,” he said.
“He is racing very well and those races look ideal.”
AAP TURF
