By Tony Megahey
While Trevor Sutherland has the big numbers and the Hayes and Dabernig team the national profile, accomplished Goulburn training twins Emma and Lucy Longmire offer value chances at Tuesday’s Albury TAB meeting.
Multiple Riverina premiership trainer Sutherland has nine runners throughout the seven-race programme, while the famed national stable’s lone runner, Joburg Flyer will be among the best backed runners of the day.
Joburg Flyer, to be ridden by stable jockey Cory Parish, comes off a photo second at Albury recently after a Corowa Maiden win into the Just Safe’s Class I and Maiden (1600m).
Meanwhile Twinstar Racing’s Emma Longmire, a former long serving track- work rider for esteemed Danny Williams, rates consistent three-race winner Big Albert the best of their value chances in an Essential Utensil BM 65 (1600m). The Magic Albert five-year-old gelding has put together successive placings at Canberra, Wagga and Nowra over 2000m and 1600m.
“If he goes straight he wins at Nowra- he’s been wanting to lay in but hopefully he’ll be more tractable for Brooke Sweeney,” Emma assessed. “But we’re happy with him; all his runs have been so solid this prep. He’ll be suited on the soft and we know he’ll be strong at 1600m off 2000m placings.”
Longmire stablemates Captain Ryder contests the www.alburyracing.com.au Maiden (1175m) and dual race winner Ribs the Gary Purtell, Purjen Couriers Class 3 (1175m).
“Both should be competitive in suitable races,” Emma said. “Captain Ryder is drawn out but we’re happy to have Nick Heywood ride and his Wagga placing was solid. It was little short for him but he closed off nicely and he’ll appreciate the soft track if we get any luck from the draw.”
Alternately Ribs at value odds has the perfect rails draw carrying top weight of 57.5kg for Heywood in an in-depth Class 3.
“He’ll be a lot fitter coming off that really strong Randwick Highway won by Danny’s talented mare Highway Sixty Six,” Emma said. “It was his first run back from seven months off. He’s won second up and we’ve always had an opinion of him.”
With wins at 1200m and 1400m, Ribs can be guaranteed to be closing strongly over the shorter distance and Heywood has won on him previously.
The Longmires have their resilient staying money spinner Thunder Road contesting a strong Warwick Farm 2200m event on Wednesday against four Waller representatives. Thunder Road won at big odds for the twins at Royal Randwick.
“This is a lead-up race as we’ve set him again for the Riverina Cup that he won for us last year with Nick riding,” Emma enthused.
At 3800m the regional feature is the longest staying race in NSW. Emma and Lucy are cousins of AFL Sydney Swan’s premiership coach John Longmire.
View the fields and form (including race replays) for Tuesday's Albury meeting here.