It’s nearly two years since Red Can Man recorded his last win but trainer Steve Wolfe and jockey Shaun McGruddy have not lost faith in their horse.
Red Can Man last saluted in the Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, an absence of 672 days from the winner’s stall, but it doesn’t reflect a true picture of his form.
Since winning the G3 Monash Stakes in Melbourne, Red Can Man has raced on 20 occasions for nine placings including eight at black-type level.
This time last year he ran consecutive seconds to Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) hero, Elite Street, rated by Wolfe as one of Perth’s best sprinters of the modern era.
Sired by Gingerbread Man, Red Can Man is not enjoying ultimate success, but continues to rack up prizemoney that is now close to $1.3 million.
The six-year-old will hope to add another $109,600 to that tally when he tries to snap a long drought in Saturday’s G3 Belmont Sprint (1400m).
McGruddy, who has played a regular role in 25 of Red Can Man’s career performances, says he is an admirer of the horse.
“He keeps earning money and he keeps ticking over,” McGruddy said on Tabradio.
“He is well over the million dollar mark in earnings.
“He is as honest as the day is long.”
The Belmont Sprint has attracted 13 acceptors with Red Can Man to jump from barrier 12, but McGruddy expects to go forward and play to the gelding’s racing pattern.
He says depending on how much work he will have to do to cross from the second widest gate will dictate if Red Can Man can breakthrough.
“That’s his natural racing pattern and I would like to think I can get somewhere near them without doing too much work,” McGruddy said.
“I would say if anything else went with me they would bring themselves undone as well.
“As long as we can get across without doing too much work we should be there when the whips are cracking.”
Red Can Man has tightened from his opening price of $5.50 into $4.80.
He currently shares favouritism with Bustler.
Dom To Shoot and The Velvet Queen are $5.50
Resortman is $7.50 and Comfort Me $8.50.
McGruddy also believes he has strong winning chances with progressive three-year-old Catch These Hands and Little Silver.
Catch These Hands has won his past three races and McGruddy rates him as an Ascot carnival horse later this year.