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Ballarat-trained mare Wheal Leisure will use Friday’s $180,000 Albury Gold Cup as a step to a start in next month’s Sydney Cup at Randwick for his classy mare Wheal Leisure.

Trainer Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander is looking for a one-two finish in the Commercial Club Albury Cup (2000m) with Wheal Leisure and last year’s fourth placegetter Survived.

Dean Yendall rides Wheal Leisure with Alexander favouring her chances ahead of Survived, to be ridden by Declan Bates.

“Wheal Leisure is the more classy of the two and I can see her running well,” Alexander told the Albury Border Mail.

“She put in a bad run last time, but she is better than that. If she can win she will continue on towards the Sydney Cup.

“I think she could run in a Melbourne Cup. She ran third in the Tasmania Oaks and fifth in the ATC Oaks and won the $250,000 Inglis Cup at Caulfield.

“Her record is good and she would be the pick of my two.”

The talented trainer said he is not sure what to expect from the 8YO veteran Survived.

“Survived is tough and raw, but he is unpredictable,” he said.

“He could win or run last – he is that type of horse.

“He drew 14 last year and raced on a heavy track and this time will get a good surface and the inside gate.”

Survived has been a prolific winner and counts three victories in the Mt Gambier Cup on his record.

He excels on soft tracks but the Albury track will be in perfect condition as the southern districts has missed the heavy rain hitting other parts of NSW.

Wodonga trainer Craig Widdison and Scone-based Brett Cavanough, formerly Albury’s leading trainer, also have dual entries in the Albury Cup.

Widdison is represented by Willi Willi and Mr Fergus and Cavanough has accepted with Bray and Brazen.

Cavanough relocated from Albury to Scone last April but always planned to return for the carnival and landed a win with Bray on the first day last Sunday.

Brazen also raced last Sunday, finishing sixth in the Albury Mile first-up from a spell.