Winning doubles for Albany trainers Roy Rogers and Steve Wolfe as racing returns to Percy Spencer Racecourse

Albany trainers Roy Rogers and Steve Wolfe both finished with winning doubles as racing returned to Percy Spencer Racecourse last week. After a short stint of suspended racing due to finance issues, Albany Racing Club was granted permission to hold races again and held a seven-race card on Friday. Rogers notched a winning double after Alotta Dane and Gingerquest both saluted on the program, while Wolfe’s winning ways continued with I Dreamed A Dream and Saulok. Jockey Austin Galati has been in red-hot form in the Great Southern this season and he brought home a winning treble, including both of Rogers’ winners. Alotta Dane, who was second at his last start, broke through for a maiden win when sitting on speed for Galati in race two over 1000m. After jumping a $6 chance, Alotta Dane held off a late charge from Gingers Sister ($3.10) by nearly one length while $1.90 favourite Lady Coco faded after leading to run third. Promising type Gingerquest then made it back-to-back wins after taking out the TABtouch Handicap (1240m). Galati had Gingerquest ($3.70) in a great position after jumping from barrier one and they sprinted home strongly to beat Secret Stones ($6) by a half-head. Earlier Galati won the Pingrup Races 22nd March Maiden (1500m) aboard the Indianna Weinert-trained Kamikaze Fighter. Weinert had the quinella in the race after Bulls Eye Perfect ran second, but it was no match for the stablemate, with Kamikaze Fighter justifying his $2.30 quote with a slashing 3.5-length win. Wolfe and stable jockey Shaun McGruddy teamed up to win the Monty’s Leap Handicap (1940m) with progressive four-year-old I Dreamed A Dream ($2.45), who held on by a long head over the fast-finishing Beautiful Baroque. McGruddy then delivered a top ride aboard Saulok in the Pelicans Ladies Bracelet 16th March Handicap (1600m). Lumping 60.5kg as top weight, McGruddy sent Saulok ($2.50) straight to the front where they dictated terms and won by a length over Niccy’s Affair ($12). Four-year-old mare Platinum Shot made an impressive return from a spell, winning first-up over 1100m in race three. The Dan and Ben Pearce-trained galloper sat fourth in running for apprentice Zephen Johnston-Porter and ran on strongly in the final 400m to win by nearly a length over Yardstick. Yardstick trainer Rogers lodged a protest against Platinum Shot for alleged interference at the 100m but stewards dismissed it after hearing evidence. Johnston-Porter was reprimanded for careless riding for the incident, however, allowing his mount to shift inwards uncorrected in the concluding stages. The final race on the day was a family affair with trainer Paul Hunter and daughter and jockey Casey Hunter combining with Henry The Aviator to claim the 1500m event. Henry The Aviator charged from 10th on the final turn to win by nearly one length over Defending. Albany jockey Tash Faithfull copped an 11-day careless riding suspension on Beautiful Baroque, which stewards determined was in the low to mid-level range. Three runners received varying degrees of interference as a result. She will be free to ride at Albany’s major meet headlined by The Bluff Knoll on March 16 as her ban ends on March 14. Hoop Alex Hearn was reprimanded for failing to ride his mount out fully in race six on Win To Retire.