Alberta Kicks off Classic Campaign

Flying filly Alberta Bound will put her scintillating Cairns form to the test when she steps out for new trainer Graham Hughes at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

The Dracarys youngster, an easy winner of her past three starts at Cannon Park, will make her stable debut for Hughes with topweight of 60kg in the 2YO Classic June 6 Hcp (1000m).

Alberta Bound is on a path to clash with the north’s best juveniles in the $100,000 Townsville 2YO Classic at Cluden on June 6 – a race won last year by superstar filly Sheza Alibi.

“The Classic is obviously her target. She came back from the paddock to me. Her owners wanted to have her here because it’s more central and handier to Mackay if we need to go there,” Hughes said.

“She’ll race forward like she normally does, but she’ll definitely improve on this run.

“I’ve got her as fit as I can without trialling her. The opportunity to trial wasn’t there when we needed it.

“She’s a nice horse so hopefully she can carry on with it.

“We’ll see how she goes in this one, and comes through the run, and then look through the programs to see where else she runs before the Classic.”

Alberta Bound showed a sign of her natural speed at her first start when she finished second to crack colt Better Blitzem in the Pallarenda Stakes at Cluden in October.

She then rattled off three effortless wins at Cairns for Cannon Park trainer Scott Cooper before going for a spell in December.

The Dracarys-Alberta filly, her full sister Gold Classic and unraced three-year-old Evita Lass, raced in the same interests, were all transferred to Hughes.

While Alberta Bound will command major interest in Tuesday’s race, leading trainer Georgie Holt is expecting flighty filly Tambo’s Sister to prove hard to beat.

The Bivouac filly sped to an all-the-way maiden win at Cluden on March 31 at her third race start.

“She’s done well and learnt a lot from her last run. The draw (8) isn’t ideal but I think she can overcome it,” Holt said.

“With Lacey (Morrison) on board and given how well she was last start, I think she’ll go well.

“She’ll go for a break after Tuesday’s race regardless of the result.”

Holt, who leads the premiership with 21 wins for the season, is also expecting impressive newcomer Hot Cocoa to take beating despite a sharp class rise in the Belle Property Longest Lunch QTIS 3YO Hcp (1200m).

Hot Cocoa breezed to an easy win in maiden class on April 14 and will make a big leap to an open 3YO class on Tuesday.

“I think she’s one of our best chances along with Tambo’s Sister,” Holt said.

“I know it’s a huge jump in grade but she did it quite easily in her maiden win.

“She didn’t get out of second gear and she just cruised along and raced past them.

“She’s pulled up really well and will get a couple of kilos off and is drawn ideally (4).”

Hot Cocoa will be ridden by Brisbane apprentice Fiona Sandkuhl and with her 2kg claim will carry just 52kg.

But she will be up against classy Rocky visitor Krackacan, the improving Mister Doobie, She’s A Sweet Star and recent Cairns winner Insta Worthy in one of the races of the day.