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A fresh start and a preparation based around his own training regime has trainer Mitch Beer expecting Enzed Beer to figure first-up in the in the Avis Benchmark 66 (1175m) at Albury on Monday.
Mitch Beer has started afresh with Enzed Beer for this campaign after his initial campaign since arriving from New Zealand didn't go as planned.
"I turned him out for a spell and have started afresh," Beer said.
"We got him from New Zealand and he didn't go as well as we expected in several starts.
"This time in he has done our training from the start and I thought he trialled really well when he won at Wagga."
Enzed Beer, who previously raced as Bobby Dazzler, won three races in New Zealand – the latest of those was in July of 2019.
It has been close to two years between wins, but Beer is sure Enzed Beer has more to offer.
The galloper looked in control winning a trial and will have the services of experienced and multiple premiership winning jockey Nick Souquet on Monday.
Beer hopes Enzed Beer, and stablemate Swagger which is listed to also run in Monday's final race, can measure up to one of the Showcase races at the Wagga Cup carnival in two weeks.
The premiership winning trainer only has a small team of horses racing at Albury in comparison to other meetings.
He will also have two chances in each of two other races.
Beer will also run debutant Tullaghan and Miss Isolation in the Redi2hire Maiden (1400m), Fleming's Hero and Caridi in the Gazebo & Shade Centre Maiden (1175m) and Power Me Up in the Leigh Martin Marine Benchmark 58 (1600m).
Meanwhile, Albury galloper Waiting For A Mate will resume against Enzed Beer as he looks to add to his excellent record at his home track.
Waiting For A Mate has recorded five of his six career wins at Albury and is first-up since November for local trainer Norm Loy.
"He will run a big race. He is working well and he does love racing at Albury," Loy said.
Wagga galloper Kurocaine has been a model of consistency finishing in the top four at his past nine starts and is again rated amongst the main chances.
He finished strongly to win at Wagga two starts back before a closing second at Gundagai last time out.
Trainer Gay Colvin expects the longer straight at Albury to suit one of the most consistent gallopers in training.
"He just has to be held up and held up and then let go late. The Gundagai track wasn't as suitable for him as what Albury will be," Colvin said.
Meanwhile, trainer Andrew Dale will be striving to maintain the stable's consistent run of winners with some winning chances on Monday headed by Namarari and Lingjun Topgun in the Benchmark 58 (1600m).
Dale recorded another winning double at Wangaratta last Saturday which followed his victory in the Leeton Cup with Namarari.
The race top weight has won two of his past four starts, while Lingjun Topgun has won two of his past three appearances.
Wagga apprentice jockey Hannah Williams will reduce Namarari's weight to 58 kilograms, while Lingjun Topgun will be better suited to 1600 metres, according to his trainer.
"He was disappointing last start over 2040 metres so back to a mile at Albury he will be more competitive," Dale suggested.
"Namarari has been really good of late and with the claim for Hannah he gets into the race well."
Most of Dale's horses at Albury will be ridden by Canberra jockey Billy Owen including Valour Elite which contests the final race.
Dale is expecting the recent winner to hit back after failing at his latest start at Gundagai.
"He didn't handle the track and back to Albury from a better barrier he will run well," Dale said.
Valour Elite has gained a start as the first emergency from barrier three after their were five early scratchings.
The Albury track is rated a Good 4 for the seven race program.
