A stronger and more mature Albrecht begins a campaign on Saturday aimed at achieving what he failed to do as a spring three-year-old.
The Peter Snowden-trained colt kicks off his preparation in the Listed Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, the first step towards a likely showdown with All Too Hard in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m).
Albrecht winning the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes - Photo by Steve Hart
The well-bred Albrecht, by Redoute’s Choice out of an unraced sister to Lonhro, went within a head of winning the Group One Golden Rose in the spring, denied by stablemate Epaulette.
Assistant trainer Paul Snowden, who has had Albrecht in Melbourne for the past three weeks, believes the colt has made the necessary physical improvement to help him go to the next level this time in.
“He just oozes class, basically,” Snowden said.
“From last preparation he’s definitely a lot stronger.
“That was probably his downfall to a degree. He was just a touch weak. But he’s certainly furnished into a really nice horse now.”
Albrecht headlines the Manfred Stakes field which includes the untapped Hosting and unbeaten Royal Haunt.
But Snowden was expecting Albrecht, the $1.90 favourite, to have a few more big-name opponents.
“To tell you the truth, I thought it would be a lot stronger on paper that what it is,” he said.
“Obviously he’s the best horse in the race. He has got to concede a little bit of weight to the others but he’s in very good order and it just looks a really nice race off a good draw to kick him off in.”
It’s another important weekend for the Darley team as the feature races of the Melbourne carnival loom.
Along with Albrecht’s return, two-year-old stablemate Metastasio will press her claims for inclusion in the Group One Blue Diamond when she runs in the Listed Chairman’s Stakes (1100m).
Metastasio won on debut at Flemington two weeks ago and another victory on Saturday would likely see her paid up as a late entry for the Blue Diamond at Caulfield on February 23.
“She hasn’t gone backwards,” Snowden said.
“You want to see her do it again and prove it wasn’t any fluke.”
The Chairman’s Stakes has a number of Blue Diamond hopefuls including Politeness who sits on the third line of betting on the Group One.
However, her trainer Robert Smerdon has said the filly will instead make her debut on Friday night at Moonee Valley.
