Striking grey Albumin will be aiming for his third consecutive win and first over 1200 metres when he lines up on his home track at Rosehill.
Trainer Gerald Ryan considered taking him to Grafton for Wednesday’s Listed Ramornie Handicap but decided against the road trip and the three-year-old will instead run on Saturday.
“We were thinking about Grafton but 10 hours in the float opposed to walking across from his stable was a factor,” Ryan said.
“He will run in the benchmark 90 race with Jay Ford to ride.
“The horse has done very well since his last start and is enjoying his racing.”
Albumin will carry 54.5kg in the race which is now a benchmark 92 but would have had to lug 60.5kg in the other race he was entered for at benchmark 80 level.
Ford has ridden Albumin to his past two wins, both over 1100m at Rosehill.
Ryan will have a runner in the benchmark 80 race with the well-bred Star Of Monsoon to run with James McDonald to ride.
“He has had a couple of trials and was ready to go at Canterbury but I scratched him because of the heavy track,” Ryan said.
‘He will get a better track on Saturday.”
By Lonhro, Star Of Monsoon is out of Monsoon Wedding, a full sister to Redoute’s Choice.
Star Of Monsoon racked up 11 minor placings from his first 16 starts before the decision was made to geld him.
He then immediately broke his maiden at Gosford in December and backed it up with another win at the same track.
In three starts earlier this year, Star Of Monsoon ran second twice and third in the other.
New Zealand trainer Peter Lock’s worries about having a Winter Stakes runner are over with Hiflyer safely in Sydney with stablemates Dougie and Mr Luigi after several flight delays.
A last-start winner at Ruakaka, Hiflyer will run in Saturday’s Listed 1400m Winter Stakes as with top weight of 59.5kg.
