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By Graeme White

It was only a trial, but trainer Scott Spackman liked what he saw from stable star Rocket Tiger ($6 equal favourite on TAB) when he wore blinkers for the first time ahead of his assignment in the Hutchinson Civil City Handicap at Albury on Thursday.

Rocket Tiger has won a trial since his last start by almost six lengths defeating subsequent Canberra National Sprint winner, Another One.

Rocket Tiger (Kathy O'Hara; maroon & white) scores narrowly at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

The former classy two-year-old ran his final 600 metres in 33.8 seconds with jockey Shaun Guymer aboard and Spackman is hoping he can replicate that on Thursday.

It was only two years ago that Rocket Tiger finished 10th in the Golden Slipper and the now four-year-old is closing in on $200,000 in earnings.

“The horse lacked confidence and has got knocked around a bit in races, but in the trial with the blinkers on I thought he went really well,” he said.

“I can’t fault him. Hopefully he can position up and show what he can do.”

Spackman ran second in the 2018 Albury City Handicap with O’So Hazy and would love to capture the feature race on the first day of the carnival.

“If he has some luck and goes as well as he did in the trial he should be in the finish,” he suggested.

Mount Horeb won three straight Albury City Handicaps which included seven victories and O’So Hazy was the only horse to beat the galloper at the course.

Rocket Tiger shares favouritism on TAB at $6 with Espirito and Super Helpful.

The topweight Southern Lad ($9) could be withdrawn after drawing wide, while last start winner Delacour and the consistent Big Day Out are early scratchings.

Super Helpful finished fourth behind Another One, Handle The Truth and Cavalier Charles in the National Sprint at his latest start.

The gelding won the Gundagai Snake Gully Cup in November and is proven against some quality opposition.

“He has good early speed, but he doesn’t have to lead,” co-trainer Paul Jones said. “We have a high opinion of him and think he is up to some decent class races.”

Espirito has the speed to take up the running and is likely to look the winner at some stage in the straight The gelding has only missed a place four times in his 14-start career for trainer Paul Murray.

“He has a high cruising speed and when he gets into his rhythm he can keep going,” Murray said.

The Murray stable will have three runners on Thursday as they try and add another feature race to their growing list.

“I remember a couple of times Dad (late father Bede) won a $50,000 bonus the club offered I think it was for training five winners,” he said. “It has always been a good carnival for us.”

There is rain forecast for Albury with the track currently rated a Soft 7.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Albury here