Tyler Schiller landed his third win in the Listed Albury Gold Cup when Bianco Vilano, who came from well off the pace, unleashed a powerful finishing effort out wide on the track to which the best of his rivals had no answer.
The Ron Stubbs trained seven-year-old made light work of his age … he swept past two four-year-olds late to confine them to the minor placings … he made light work of his veteran status, this was his forty-second start … and he made light work of his dismissive $41 starting price which proved to be absolutely no barrier to success.
The Albany Gold Cup win came with the added bonus of Big Dace Eligibility making it a very fruitful outing for the son of Foxwedge.
The $4.60 second favourite Plymouth finished second with another outsider Blazing Sword claiming third place.
A year ago, Bianco Vilano finished in sixth place in the 2025 edition of the race and followed that result up with a runner-up finish in the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup two weeks later.
That was an important result which would have a roll on effect moving forward, as Tyler Schiller who rode him that day explained.
“His run in the Wagga Cup last year was sensational, which pretty much swayed me to stick with him,” said Schiller. “We were always looking to get him back to these Cups at Albury and Wagga.
“His run last start (when unplaced at Warwick Farm) probably wasn’t a true representation of him. His Canterbury run before that was terrific first-up. I think just the travel up to Sydney and back again was taking a bit out of him.
‘He’s genuine. The last start was a forgive and today we’ve seen the real horse. He turned up in great order.”
Trainer Ron Stubbs, who is based at Albury, claimed a rare distinction with this win.
This is his second Albury Gold Cup win, a race he last won in 1995 with Wilga Dash. Not many trainers can claim winning the same feature race thirty-one years apart!
“He’s been deserving of good win. He has run some mighty fine races. Luck hasn’t been his way, and you couldn’t get a better day to turn it all around,” said Stubbs.
“We always set him for the Cup. It is the pinnacle of local racing. It is great to have a runner … even better to have a winner.
“It’s a big, big thrill. You know, we are never going to get Group wins.
“This is our Group win.”
