Super return from star Albany galloper Wineaclocksumwhere, doubles to Steve Wolfe and Lucy Fiore on cup day

Wineaclocksumwhere continued his brilliant Great Southern season, adding a fifth win to his campaign on Easter Sunday when lumping 61kg first-up. The Samantha Faithfull-trained galloper has been wonderful this season, winning first-up in November and then claiming the regional championship series heat in Albany. After finishing fourth in the series final at Ascot, the four-year-old returned to Albany to win a 70+ handicap and then run third in the Fitzpatrick Plate. Wineaclocksumwhere then won the Mt Barker Sprint in January and enjoyed a short break before coming back to sizzle to victory on April 5. Ridden by Tash Faithfull who had to carry 61kg in the open class race, Wineaclocksumwhere showed his class with an all-the-way win. Jumping from barrier nine, Wineaclocksumwhere led the field and kicked clear on straightening to win by nearly two lengths over Head’em in the Wellington & Reeves Moir Panizza Handicap (1230m). The Faithfull team are likely to head to city class now with their stable star, in search of some weight relief and another rise in grade. It was a strong day for the locals on the eight-race card at Percy Spencer Racecourse. Champion trainer Steve Wolfe bagged an early double, taking out the opening two events with Cosmic Gem and Brave Dragon both ridden by Shaun McGruddy. Cosmic Gem ($1.85) broke through at his seventh career start, winning the Wellington & Reeves Real Estate Since ’48 Maiden (1600m) by a long head over Thor’s Angel ($9). After a freshen-up Brave Dragon ($5.50) was an impressive winner of race two over 1230m, charging home from 13th on the corner to win by nearly a length over I’m All The Funk ($13). Niccy’s Affair ($3.50) made it three wins in Albany this season and two in a row when claiming the Wellington & Reeves Rural Handicap (1000m) for trainer Roy Rogers. Amy Jo Hayes had the talented mare sitting on speed and got the better of Hezangelic by a neck on the line. Trainer-jockey Casey Hunter won the final race on the program, leading all the way over 1600m with Uni Queen ($10) to defeat long shot Annihilator ($41) by half a length. Time Connection produced a strong performance for trainer Brandon Fiore and hoop Lucy Fiore to win the Wellington & Reeves Property Management Handicap (1230m) by more than a length. Settling well back from a wide draw, Fiore rode the mare with confidence and they sprinted home strongly to salute at $20 with Brave Apache more than a length away in second while $1.75 favourite Testy Pharoah plugged away under the 61kg impost and ran third. Bunbury’s Tom Wolfe took out the third race over 1900m as Renovation Show got up along the rail with a superb finish for rider Chanel Cooper to win by more than four lengths. It was the first WA win for Renovation Show ($11) since coming to WA and joining the young Wolfe’s stables. Fiore finished with a winning double in the saddle after a terrific ride helped take out the Wellington & Reeves Albany Community Cup aboard True Player. Apprentice Natika Riordan was fined $400 by stewards for a whip breach on Henry The Aviator in race eight. Jockey Brayden Gaerth was fined $300 for a whip breach on Rocking Society who finished runner-up in the feature race. In race six Playing Rio returned with a cardiac arrythmia and will need to trial to the satisfaction of stewards before racing again.