Wagga trainer Scott Spackman is eyeing off two of the big three features at the Albury Gold Cup carnival.
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Spackman will kick off the carnival with stable star O' So Hazy in Thursday's $50,000 City Handicap (1175m), a race the mare ran second in last year.
He is confident Red Rock Stella will also run a big race in the last on Thursday, before the in-form Jaytee's The Fox tackles the $80,000 Albury Guineas Benchmark 74 Handicap (1400m).
Rebeka Prest returns from injury to reunite with O' So Hazy and Spackman is confident the mare will run a big race in the City Handicap.
"I'm very happy with her," Spackman said.
"She's really freshened up well since her last run. I can't fault her. She's back to where we want her."
It has been a big 12 months for O' So Hazy, who burst onto the scene with a victory in last year's Country Championships Qualifier.
She then went on to run second in the City Handicap, third in the Country Championships Final and fourth in the Town Plate. Her next preparation also included runs in the inaugural Kosciuszko and Snake Gully Cup.
"It took it's toll on her," Spackman said.
"Then 1400 first up this prep, we were up against it when we drew the gate we did. It backfired but we had to do what we had to do.
"She's going really well and I think she'll run a big race. There's good speed inside her, she should get a nice cart across and hopefully be thereabouts."
Spackman also hopes to make his mark with his only runner on Cup day.
Jaytee's The Fox highlighted his potential with a dominant three-length win on Corowa Cup day, backing up an eye-catching second on Championships day at Albury.
Jake Duffy will take the ride from barrier four in the nine-horse Guineas and Spackman is excited by his chances.
"He's a live chance. I'm very excited," he said.
"He's a bit of a thinker but he's getting better with each start. I think the penny is finally starting to drop. He still doesn't know what he's doing or how good he is, or how good he is going to be.
"He could turn out to be a Wagga Cup horse. I know that's a big statement but he really could be. He's potentially the best horse I've trained for a long, long time. He's got to get there but he's headed in the right direction."
To add to a big few days, Spackman plans to head to Muswellbrook on Sunday with Takookacod.
He will accept with her in the $50,000 Country Championships Wild Card (1280m) and make a decision after the barrier draw.
He has booked Shaun Guymer to ride.
"If we draw a gate, we're definitely going to go," he said.
"We're going to have a crack."
The first two horses home in the Wild Card gain the final two places in the $500,000 Country Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 6.
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