3 minute read

After brief contemplation, Steve Wolfe had a change of heart and couldn’t be happier with Red Can Man’s barrier position in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Red Can Man Wolfe's stable flag bearer for years, will jump from barrier 10 in the Winterbottom Stakes with champion jockey Paul Harvey to assume the riding duties.

"Initially I thought three or four would be good, but the way the speed has turned out I think it will play into our hands really quite well," Wolfe said on Tabradio.

"There are a couple outside of us that have to go forward and I'd like to think we could be running fourth or fifth.

"There's differing opinions on the horse, but I've always believed he is a better chaser than being up on the speed.

"He's been the chopping block so many times in these bigger races and hopefully we can get the right run this time around."

Red Can Man, a seven-year-old, has been unsuccessful in etching his name on the Winterbottom Stakes trophy.

On three previous occasions in Perth's major sprint the son of Gingerbread Man has not bettered sixth placing.

But Wolfe insists Red Can Man is going as well as ever.

He won first-up in the Crawford Stakes (1000m) and filled third position behind Winterbottom rival Snowdome in the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m).

In the Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) Red Can Man was in the unexpected roll as pacemaker before fading to sixth after he jumped at a section of the track

"He came through it really good," Wolfe said.

"He seems to be in really good order.

"He's work yesterday morning (Tuesday) was super.

"I don't think we can have him any better currently."

Red Can Man has been a ripper for Wolfe since his debut in 2019.

He's won nine races and banked $1.3 million in prizemoney.

He's no world-beater but as honest as the day is long and ultra consistent in feature races.

A career peak came in Melbourne in the G3 Monash Stakes.

In Perth he's won three Listed events: the Fairetha, Bolton and Crawford Stakes.'

He also holds 11 placings in Group 2 and Group 3 races.

Harvey gets his second steer on Red Can Man after riding him into second place behind Acromantula in the Rock Magic Stakes.

Tab touch has Red Can Man quoted at $17.