Lightly-raced Miss Albania has been taken quietly through the grades, but now it is time for her to attempt to attain some ‘black type’.
Trainer Enver Jusufovic is hoping that will come via the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday.
The five-year-old daughter of Magnus is also entered for the Benchmark 90 Handicap over 1200m, but Jusufovic said the 1000m option was more appealing.
Jusufovic said the mare only needs to gallop well on Tuesday to take her place in the Carlyon Stakes in which she will be ridden by Jamie Kah.
It will be the first time Kah has ridden the mare with Michael Dee, Craig Newitt, Craig Williams and Liam Riordan having also ridden Miss Albania in her seven-start career to date, that has netted four wins.
Miss Albania strung together three wins on the trot in her first preparation before running second to La Mexicana at Caulfield in January.
The mare returned to finish third behind Plaquette at Caulfield over 1100m on July 24 before winning over 1100m, defeating Oxley Road, at Flemington on August 7.
Jusufovic is unconcerned by Miss Albania coming back 100m in journey on Saturday.
“The horse is in excellent order after her win last time at Flemington,” Jusufovic said.
“Coming back 100 metres in trip is not going to affect her as she’s a speed horse and she’ll be cherry ripe for this.
“She’s possibly going to meet the horse she beat last time and you would expect that horse to be hard to beat.
“But all she has to do is gallop well tomorrow and she’ll take her place and if she wins, she’ll pick up some ‘black type’ as well.”
A total of 17 horses have been nomination for Saturday’s race, including Ancestry, Ballistic Lover, Express Pass, Front Page, News Girl and Oxley Road.
