Star trainer Steve Wolfe extends lead at top of trainer standings with four victories in Albany on Thursday

Leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe notched a wonderful quartet of wins at Albany on Thursday extending his lead at the top of Albany Racing Club’s trainer of the year standings. Wolfe took four victories from the seven-race card at Percy Spencer Racecourse and was a half a nose shy of adding a fifth in a sensational outing for the stable. The triumphant day meant Wolfe strengthened his hold on the Albany Stockfeeds Trainer of the Year standings with 24 victories, 15 ahead of Rebecca Bayliss and Paul Hunter tied for second. Wolfe’s day began in the opener when Perth-based jockey Shaun McGruddy converted short-priced favourite Brave Spirit ($1.18) to a two-length victory over his stablemate Good Song ($16) in the TabTouch Better Your Bet Maiden (1100m). McGruddy added his and Wolfe’s second in the Motel Le Grand Albany Maiden (1600m) after saluting with Warralea Lass ($2.40). The Perth-based hoop fired the three-year-old to the lead on the home straight and stormed home to the winning post to finish three and a half lengths in front of Sir Bear A Lot ($3.30). Wolfe finished the day with wins in the final two races after riders Alan Kennedy and Beaux Banovic-Edwards clinched their first wins of the afternoon. Kennedy helped Yes Of Course ($3.50) beat out Bayliss’ Miss Eugen ($8) and stablemate Punters Pilot ($3.60) by just over a length in the Stirling Ranges Beef By Butterfield Handicap (1500m). Banovic-Edwards capped off a brilliant day for the Wolfe stable after steering fast-finishing stayer Double Thumbs Up ($14) to a sensational win over Samantha Faithfull’s Beautiful Baroque in the Wellington & Reeves Handicap (1940m). Wolfe came agonisingly close to a fifth win with Natasha Fathfull-ridden Safe Rappa ($10) in the Black & White Concreting Handicap (1240m) but was pipped on the outside by a quick-closing How Pretty ($3.30) by a nose. How Pretty was expertly ridden by Perth-based apprentice Zephen Johnston-Porter handing him and trainer Adam Durant their first win for the day. Natasha Faithfull combined with her trainer mother Samantha Faithfull to steer Vonsnip ($5) to a two-and-a-half-length triumph in the Pelican’s Accommodation Albany Handicap (1100m). Johnathan Jachmann secured a victory in the race two sprint when Lucy Fiore guided Storm Commander ($6) to a half-a-length victory over Durrant’s Russian Sniper ($7) and Alan Smith’s Morgs Freeman ($6). Kennedy was reprimanded for carelessly riding Yes Of Course in front of Feels Hot in race six, however avoided suspension courtesy of a good record.