Champion Albany trainer Steve Wolfe chases elusive Group 1 win in $1.5m TABTouch-Northerly Stakes at Ascot

Reigning Albany Racing Club trainer of the year Steve Wolfe will get a second chance at a first Group 1 triumph in as many weeks when star pair River Rubicon and Currimundi tackle the $1.5m TABTouch-Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Wolfe narrowly missed out on a maiden Group 1 win at the Winterbottom Stakes last Saturday, finishing fourth with four-year-old bolter Rope Them In.

But as The Pinnacles carnival enters the penultimate week, Wolfe’s talented two-pronged attack will give the Great Southern stable another shot at an elusive Group 1 victory.

Wellington & Reeves Albany Community Cup winner Currimundi has had Perth hoop Shaun McGruddy on board the last three races but will be steered this time by Jordan Turner, but has an uphill battle from barrier 18.

The six-year-old gelding ran fifth and fourth in each of its last starts, but finished second at the Northam Cup to Grant and Alana Williams-trained high flyer Buckets Ridge in October.

River Rubicon, to be ridden by Joseph Azzopardi, rounds out Wolfe’s dashing duo, with the six-year-old gelding drawing barrier 12 for the feature race.

Wolfe will also feature in the 2YO Plate (1000m) with Tango Rhythm and Our Naughty Secret.