Country Championship qualified Loved Up will run in Friday’s Albury Guineas to ‘top her off’ for the $300,000 final at Randwick on 4 April.
Albury trainer Brett Cavanough says “Loved Up is “going super”.
“The Albury Guineas is a strong race in name, but I am not so sure quality-wise,” he says.
“Loved Up is on her home track, has a good barrier, a good jockey — and plenty of time to get home out wide.”
Loved Up finished powerfully to win the $100,000 Southern Districts Country Championships Qualifier over 1400m at Wagga on 15 March and is currently posted at $11 by TAB Sportsbet for the final.
“She will run in the Guineas because I want her to be at her top for the Country Championship final,” Cavanough says.
“She’s out of a Dehere mare so she’s obviously a good type.
“She’s a big girl, very athletic and has a presence about her — and she’s on the way up. She’s always been able to peel a sectional off.
"She won a showcase at Seymour one day — she gave then 5 or 6 lengths at the 100m and mowed them down. In April last year I took her to Sydney and she was beaten 5L on a heavy track by Hallowed Crown and company. Well hullo!”
Cavanough says he has “a bit of a pipe dream” that Loved Up could race at the Queensland carnival.
“She is a BOBS filly, so money-wise you don’t have to aim up on the real big races.
“She gets $90,000 if she is good enough to win the Albury Guineas. She gets around $170,000 if she is good enough to win the final in Sydney and she could go to the Scone Guineas as a bonus.”
Cavanough confirmed that Canberra-based hoop Richard Bensley will ride Love Up in the Country Championships Final.
“Richie knows her, has a feel for her, and rode her well the other day. I don’t have a stable rider and I am not frightened to change, but at the moment he ticks all the boxes.
“He’ll also be on 13 of my sixteen runners at the Albury carnival.”
Loved Up has won four races from nine starts.
