Big Haz – a winner of his past three starts and on a path towards the Country Championships – could continue Albury’s domination of the Southern Districts qualifier.
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The four-year-old resumes in the Class Four at Albury on Friday and will then move onto the $150,000 heat at Wagga on March 4.
Albury trained horses have won the past three editions with Loved Up (2015), Steakandbearnaise (2016) and Lautaro last year.
Firstly, Big Haz will need to perform on Friday to prove he is a worthy contender and trainer Garry Worsnop is confident he will deliver.
“I reckon he can sprint a bit better than he was last campaign. He is by Nothin’ Leica Dance and he needed time to mature,” Worsnop said.
“In his first five starts he showed he was going to win a race and then he just kept getting better winning three in a row.
“Racing is so competitive that it’s hard to win three in a row. We gave him a spell and brought him back and I’m happy where he is at.”
Big Haz is raced by Wosnop who bought the galloper for $2000 from the Dubbo sales and races him with his partner, Jackie Hasler.
“Big Haz is named after Jackie’s son who has been in the Army for 25 years. They call him Big Haz but he is only about five foot two inches,” he said.
“I also have Nothin Like Harry racing for the first time on Friday. He is also by Nothin’ Leica Dance and is showing good ability as well.”
Worsnop returned to his hometown of Albury after 16 years working in the mines in the Hunter Valley.
He trained racehorses in the 1980s and was drawn back to it after a lengthy absence.
“This is my hobby in retirement and I’m doing what I love with a few horses,” he said.
Big Haz will be ridden by leading jockey Nick Souquet who won last year’s qualifier on Lautaro for Andrew Dale.
The Albury Preview has attracted eight starters with Butler Butler and Bennelong Dancer also representing the city.
The top weight Athonis is expected to start favourite and prove hard to beat after seven consecutive top three finishes this campaign.
A noted leader, Athonis was narrowly beaten last start and has the edge in race fitness.
